Cat Walk Poem by Mary Champion

The Cat said, ‘I have got nine lives
to get through this minefield.
I better get across in eight
if truth's to be revealed.'

About that time he stepped on number one
and pussy's mind got blown to Kingdom Come.
Right there he marked an ‘X' so that he knew
before he started out to take step two.

Then half way through the eighth time that he died,
the cat found out he'd reached the other side.
He drew himself a map to show the way
and said, with half a smile, ‘You'll have to pay.
This map has cost me hell; it's been no fun,
and it's worth all I ask to cross in one.'

But some just laughed and said, ‘We've nine lives too.
We'll draw ourselves a map, the same as you.'
But he said, ‘That ain't right, I think you'll find
you wasted most your lives just running blind.
The way that you were facing was all wrong,
and while I got a cross, you went along.'

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But then a little bird flew up and said,
‘Hey Tom, don't let success go to your head.
I guess you're Top Cat now, you know the part,
but birds are born to know the way by heart.
You thought that you were chasing me,
but I was leading you.
Without my guidance at the start -
you'd run in circles too.'