Fickle Felines and Other Tails

Photo by Carol Bales

The feline tail curled aloft in a question mark - what question does it ask?  The cat is a hedonistic creature, enjoying all the pleasures of the flesh wherever it can get them on their own terms.   Perhaps the question is, "What would feel the best right now?"  There are so many choices after all.   During the day there is eating, sleeping, lying in the sun, hunting, fighting with the neighbor if you are so inclined or perhaps torturing the dog; at night you can serenade the entire neighborhood with your beautiful voice as you sing out your desire; and every moment you have an encyclopedia of smells and sounds that constantly appeal to your heightened senses. 

What does a well-cared-for cat remember?  In my neighborhood we have a cat that sees me coming.  He knows if he comes over to me I will pet him, so when he sees me he trots over.  When I was young we had a cat that took off every dusk.  I followed him once and he led me to an older woman's house.  The woman fed him and petted him.  Then he went to the next older woman's house next door, and so on.  So in addition to the supper I gave him, he got himself five additional dinners every night, I suspect not unlike Donal Mahoney's friend pictured above.  

I believe these behaviors show that cats remember where they can get pleasure and who they can get it from.   There is s lesson in there somewhere.   

Last week's offerings give us the feline and some contrast to the feline.  Donal Mahoney's "Siren of the Streets" illustrates shameless feline behavior.  But often, unlike cats, we choose to dwell on things other than pleasure, as can be seen in Christopher Hivner's new poem, "Returns."  Both poets graced us with several excellent expamples of their work last week, so be sure to check them all out next door at The Poetry Locksmith.