We’ve a neighbouring cat
who likes to kill rats
and leave them as gifts
on the front door mat
I know I shouldn’t treat
such love and affection
with pure rejection
But, in truth,
there is something uncouth
about a stiff rodent
lay there
at the foot of my stairs
I freak out!
I may shout!
Even swear…
Though, I have to admit
as she strides for the kill
I can admire her skill:
the speed of her paws
and those excellent claws
her precisional sight
then her agile flight
She plays with her toy
be it girl
be it boy
carries it around
with no heart
with no sound
When it’s dead
and she’s had enough
she brings it to me:
a small thank you
for the sausage that fell
from last nights barbecue.
He he! They’re so proud of their kills, aren’t they!
They are!!
Well… I suppose it saves you getting in the pest control people! How on earth do you dispose of them though?
lol! Great fun. You should never reject a cat’s gift: they rule the world and they will punish you…
Really? :-=0 She is a lovely cat but none of us can stroke her because hubby is very allergic.
Yes, I know these “gifts” well, the worst of them were the half-ends of rabbits deposited on the mat outside the door. Sometime you got the back end and sometimes the front end but either way it was always a grisly find even for farm toughened kids.
Now a whole rabbit… good idea, they cook up nicely, but half ones ?ugh.
Cats at least have the courtesy to want to share, dogs wouldn’t even dream of it.
..or is it just that cats are showoff boastful creatures underneath that “could care less” exterior?
The neighbours cat really likes to share, with the whole neighbourhood in fact!!
She hasn’t brought us any rabbits, as yet, but we’ve had birds and mice too.
A cat recently killed the dove that was nesting in our backyard and raided the eggs. I wasn’t happy and the kids were horrified. I wonder who was the lucky one to get mama dove at their front step… Now, rats and mice are pests, so I say let the cat have fun!
Oh no!! We had a dead bird here last weekend. Not through the cat this time, it had been thrown out of it’s nest and stood no chance. The children built it a nest, bless them, but it all ended in tears.
I am glad the neighbours cat is so talented in pest control, but I would prefer her to take her victims elsewhere!
I have many rats
who are feared by my cat,
a result I suppose of their
bites to her nose when she
inquires of their health through
the bars without stealth.
Once last winter,
I found in my bed (under the covers,
by my feet–not my head!)
an ex-mouse.
My Willow-cat, head mouser,
was striving to clear the house, her
domain, of all things rodent that
left her resplendent, not
nursing a nose with a
gash, I suppose–
but also to offer
what gift she might proffer toward
the household support
(within feline comport).
That wee dead beastie was
in her eyes a feast: she
was proud of her catch
and, in fairness, her stretch
and her yawn that night
were imbued with delight that
countered my
loathing and flight for
some clothing in which to
dispose of the dearly
decomposed.
I could only show gratitude
and shush up the rat-
itude glaring at me, the
traitor, as she
purred at my feet, her
triumph complete.
Wow, thank you for that. Brilliant!!
Hm. It scans better after a few glasses of wine, I think.
Your verse, on the other hand, is tight, smooth, and feisty. I look forward to perusing your other poems!
You can click on the header poetry if you want to read some of the older ones.
Thanks for flowers! It’s a German saying which means thank you for the compliments. But I think it’s much nicer and should be adopted into the English language!!
I mean, REALLY: “mouse” and “house, her?” Worse yet, “beastie” and “feast: she?!” TS Eliot may come right up out of his grave for the privilege of slapping me in the mouth…and who could blame him? One shouldn’t write poems in under 20 minutes.
I enjoyed it!!
And “beastie” reminded me of Burns!
I have had a road runner who during the summers likes to come to my back patio door and show me his lastest lizard catch…fortunately he doesn’t like to share them…just waves them about to show he’s quite busy.
I bet you’re glad that he doesn’t like to share them
.
Your comment made me laugh!!
That’s cats for you – love your prose, it made me smile!
Thank you!!
Hey Mum!
Really enjoyed the poem, very well written in my opinion.
But I feel the need to point out to you that Socke is a boy, not a girl!
Also the fact that we tend to stroke him anyway… -.-* But, as cute as he is, it isn’t really possible not to. ^^
HDGDL <3,
Jojo x
Now, you know that I very much value your opinion!!!
A he? Really? I should have known it!!
My second laugh for today! I have two cats but the only rats/mice they play with are stuffed toys as they are indoor cats but my neighbors cat will bring her tiny Voles still alive with the tail wriggling in its’ mouth. Cheers to your mighty rat catcher but hopefully you don’t get too many gifts. Love this!
We’ve not been left a vole yet. Mice, rats, the odd bird… She’s rather generous.
Did you ever have your cat come into your bedroom at night and sit crunching a mouse inches from your head on the pillow? I did.
No!!!! I did not – thank goodness. I’m sure it was not your most pleasant experience!!