A Tale Of Some Cats Poem by Dennis Ryan

Friday morning,8 a.m., September 12,2008; revised
New Year's Day, Jan.1,2012

'One need only observe two cats together over the
course of a day to better understand human behavior.'
- A Book Of Cats

A black cat is climbing onto our deck
and Zena is watching. This cat is too
skittish, too careful and too afraid
to accept a kindness, and Zena says
'Scram! ' to her in cat. Now, Blackie
with the yellow eyes sits silently under
an oak, sheltered, looking up at us.
Take care, friends, good morning
and good morrow. Rest assured,
like Blackie, some of you sit silently
under this oak too, listening to
yourselves purr. I know what
to think of you, and gratefully
not what you think of yourselves.