Ted the Cat, ever alert, and yet . . .
Spring has officially sprung around here and on the lawn the robins hunt worms. The sight of the first robins has been positively mesmerizing to our Ted for many an April morning going on 18 years. These days I have to lift him to the window to give him a better view through the screen. “Ted,” I asked the other day. “You seem less inclined to give the redbreasts that fierce carnivorous stare. What’s up, buddy? Do you no longer hear the call of the wild?” But Ted, ever alert to even the gentlest mockery, cast upon me a look of somewhat aloof derision and hopped down to the floor. Later, I found the following on the monitor upstairs.
foremost have i noticed
that the music of robins
has changed over timetime was they roused me
to thoughts of my dinner
but now there’s affectionfor the robin on the grass
oh bird with your blank eyes
you blank-brained charmerlive i say
i didn’t make it this long
to take another creature’s lifemaybe my lust for your
feathered glory has grown
less compelling within me
or your song has evolvedbut now at the screen i listen
and birdsong feels strangely eternal
and if a cat had lips that could form a smile
i would smile and say go ahead bird go ahead and
sing
Ted the Cat (1994-present) is a domestic shorthair blogger and vers libre poet. He also enjoys sleeping, eating, and lurking. Ted the Cat co-habits with Kaze,
also a blogger at 317am.net.
wise and wonderful. thank you very much.
While I’ve never met you, Ted, my love for you grows – as does my respect for your wisdom.
And in the twilight
of his years
came a gentle smile
of spring that heard
the robins sing.
Lovely. Many thanks.
that’s actually the saddest post I’ve ever read from Ted.