I sat there in my study
Pondering what would be
As the sky became so muddy
As the rain came pouring down
You see some label me a poet
though at times I rarely show it
And at times I do not know it
When the words do not abound
Each day when it comes to a close
I recall my regrets and many woes
And sink myself into the lather of prose
For it helps me pass the time
Yet tonight seemed different in some way
For I had not found a word to say
So I turned my gaze to the skies so grey
Searching for a sign
I glanced back upon the empty page
Amidst the frustrations of trickles of rage
Trying to shift the mental gauge
That would release my conceiving mind
And then I heard the strangest sound
And began to look all around
But nothing amiss that could be found
And I felt the faintest chill
And then I heard it again the same
I raised the light of the candle flame
And saw a cat outside my pane
sitting on the window sill
scratching at the glass
scratching at the glass
as the moments slowly passed
upon my window sill
I can hear him still
I made a motion for him to shoo
As most normal people in that postilion would do
But yet he sat and did not move
His form or that unblinking stare
He looked at me I looked at him
And I felt a stirring deep within
And so I made the gesture once again
And then rose up from my chair
I banged on the window for it to scat
But it did not budge this troublsomew cat
And began to wonder what I was looking at
An animal so profoundly bold
We sat there looking at each other for the longest time
Our vision locked in a perfect lime
I felt that he was creeping inside my mind
Leaving his paw prints on my soul
And then there was the thunder crash
And I saw the lightning flash
And he disappeared from beyond the glass
And ended this test of will
And then I heard it again the same
I raised the light of the candle flame
And saw a cat outside my pane
sitting on the window sill
scratching at the glass
scratching at the glass
as the moments slowly passed
upon my window sill
I can hear him still
So i closed the curtains nice and tight
And blew out my candles' light
And decided to retire for the night
And write another day
I grabbed myself a bite eat
And slipped in my bed beneath the sheets
And felt a strange warmth about my feet
Just before I drifted away
So I opend up my weary eyes
And there before me to my surprise
Was the feline with his probing eyes
Walking up my trembling frame
And as it it sat upon my heaving chest
I wondered was it there to steal my breath
Until I had no more of it left
Or was I going insane
It sat there on me in my bed
And then it lowered its wicked head
And hissed something I am sure it must have said
For it looked like it was trying to speak
This was not a cat that liked to purr
For the next thing I saw was a moving blur
Of sharpened claws and silken fur
As it scratched me on my cheek
So I flung it from me and it was gone
And it must have been so very strong
For as I ran my hand along
My face I felt a wound so deep
How did it get in through my locked door
Why did I not hear it on the floor
Well I shan't be bothered any more
I cleaned my face with water and a cloth
I did one final check about the house
And once I made sure there was no doubt
that that hideous feline was surly out
I went back to bed and drifted off
I was awakened from my deepened sleep
And rose with hand upon my cheek
And gazed at the window in disbelief
As I sat in the shadows dark and still
And then I heard it again the same
I raised the light of the candle flame
And saw a cat outside my pane
sitting on the window sill
scratching at the glass
scratching at the glass
as the moments slowly passed
upon my window sill
I can hear him still
Another flash and the recurring scene
That cat was gone what did this mean
Was I in the midst of a nightmarish dream
Of was I destined to wage this fight
I went on into another room
And realized oh so very soon
That is was there just beyond the light of the moon
For it's eyes glowed in the darkened night
Then I hear a screeching cry
And it leapt in the air as if it could fly
And scratched me once again beneath my eye
And swiftly ran away
Now I was angered by this time
How dare it come into this house of mine
I must dispatch this devilish feline
I heard myself clearly myself say
I looked all about from floor to roof
But it was gone as if there had been no proof
And then I began to learn the truth
Of what was happening to me
I believe this cat it was solemn sign
Of my life and wasted time
The sins that plagued my soul and mind
Reflections only I could see
Perhaps I had done too much wrong
And that is why I sing the saddest song
And have been alone for so very long
Such a hard swallowed pill
And then I heard it again the same
I raised the light of the candle flame
And saw a cat outside my pane
sitting on the window sill
scratching at the glass
scratching at the glass
as the moments slowly passed
upon my window sill
I can hear him still
This time I sat there and shook my head
As if I understood every word it said
And I wept at the side of my empty bed
And released all of all my pain
I know that I am a noble, man
But decisions can turn the blessed to damned
And now at last I could understand
And then a heard someone call my name
I looked up and the cat was before my face
And yet I did not react in haste
For all my dankness had been erased
As it touched me so very gently with it's paw
It said that we all make our mistakes
What would happen tomorrow if you did not wake
Would you blame it on an act of fate
And then it jumped nimbly to the floor
It said I have nine lives to lose
I have nine paths that I could choose
If you were me how many have you have already used
Or would this one be your last
You still have time to make amends
To find life love family and friend
Why do you think you are healed with that pen
So many questions often asked
I felt my face and the scars were healed
As if by magic the wounds had been sealed
As I was left exposed with my layers peeled
And I began to smile
Perhaps there was some hope after all
And the past is not something I must recall
For my future has not been written on the wall
For I controlled it all the while
I found paper and pen and began to write
All throughout that rainy night
As endless words fell before my sight
Until my ledger had had its fill
And then I heard it again the same
I raised the light of the candle flame
And saw a cat outside my pane
sitting on the window sill
scratching at the glass
scratching at the glass
as the moments slowly passed
upon my window sill
I can hear him still
And so now I see the coming darn
Breaking as the day is spawned
And feel so calm and sweetly warmed
As I began to breathe
For perhaps we all deserve a second chance
Who do not look at themselves in a passing glance
Who believe in love and life's romance
And the navigation of Cupid's bow
For those of us with the tortured soul
Who walk the road in the bitter cold
Who still have a story to be told
And who still has time to grow
So my words come to me now in endless waves
For I know that I have been saved
And I am no longer am afraid
And have faith in my strength and will
And to think I may have gone on brokenhearted
Unless that night had truly started
Before that visitor and I so sweetly parted
I may not write now with such a thrill
And then I heard it again the same
I raised the light of the candle flame
And saw a cat outside my pane
sitting on the window sill
scratching at the glass
scratching at the glass
as the moments slowly passed
upon my window sill
I can hear him still
Thoughts of a Single Man 2012 tm
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem