Kitten
I’d love to be a kitten
romping around all day
jumping from couch to floor
pushing at the open door
always wanting more and more
batting paper, crumpled, mawed
climbing couches, stripped and clawed
purring, purring, purring
to be petted
purring, purring, purring
to be pawed
always something awed
odd insects as they fly
catch them, bat them
watch them die
crouch
and prowl
and growl
and then just purr
purring, purring, purring
rubbing to be petted
purring, purring, purring
cuddling to be rubbed
leaping,
jumping,
back and forth
back and forth
back and forth
running, racing
faster
faster
faster
up and down
up and down
up and down
leaping
leaping
creeping
creeping
faster
faster
pushing off –
and letting go…
landing just so
then curling up in your arms
snuggling, nuzzling, cuddling
goodnight.
romping around all day
jumping from couch to floor
pushing at the open door
always wanting more and more
batting paper, crumpled, mawed
climbing couches, stripped and clawed
purring, purring, purring
to be petted
purring, purring, purring
to be pawed
always something awed
odd insects as they fly
catch them, bat them
watch them die
crouch
and prowl
and growl
and then just purr
purring, purring, purring
rubbing to be petted
purring, purring, purring
cuddling to be rubbed
leaping,
jumping,
back and forth
back and forth
back and forth
running, racing
faster
faster
faster
up and down
up and down
up and down
leaping
leaping
creeping
creeping
faster
faster
pushing off –
and letting go…
landing just so
then curling up in your arms
snuggling, nuzzling, cuddling
goodnight.
♠ ♠ ♠
2001 June. The inspiration for this poem was a little grey striped kitten that owned one of my housemates in the house i was staying in over the summer. She was so cute, but she ruled the house and was always on the go. And she absolutely thrived on attention and would cuddle anyone. If you left your door open, she'd even cuddle up with you as you slept.