a poem by JaneA Kelley

Precious puss, pearly fur,
Slinky string slayer, magnificent mouse mangler,
Joyous jellicle, golden-eyed girl,
glorious in your glamour,
stretching slowly, paw by paw,
muscles moving,
tail twitching,
skin rippling,
Then, you turn, turn, and knead,
puff your pillow to perfection,
settle slowly, sigh, and sink into sleep.

Feline dreams
draped in daffodils
grass green, glowing
in dappled, dew-dropped dawn.
Magic mouse mumble-chirp
Run, jump, rending jaws,
dancing claws, and
a tasty treat,
warm raw meat,
a sigh, a purr,
life is complete ...

A crash, a clang in the street, and
you cock an ear, open one eye,
sit up, slender-posing,
wash between your toesing
nonchalant shoulder grooming.
You see Mama sitting
alone on the couch, reading
when she should be playing.

Four feline feet
Pad, pad, pad, pad; repeat.
Muscles tense, then you spring
to Mama's lap, and start to sing.

Mama-coos and kitty-mews:
I massage your velvet fur.
You respond: bump, rub, purr.
I murmur in glee;
You lap-curl happily,
Look at me with eyes half-closed,
and tell me of your panther dreams:
slinking through the dappled jungle,
a shadow on four feet,
perfectly present, in tropical heat.

A sensual shaman,
you guide me through the spirit spaces
in your endless Now.