Cat Poetry

TOM

‘Twas the night before Christmas

But Tom didn’t care

Though those fresh turkey giblets

Made wonderful fare.

He slipped out of the house

And sat on the wall

Watching moths round the street-lamp

Having a ball.

Mr Briggs should come home soon

Tom waited each night

For the master to come home

Staggering and tight.

Tom waited and waited

Mr Briggs didn’t come

So he pushed through the cat-flap:

The house was so warm.

Mrs Briggs in the kitchen

Bowed her head in despair

Tom jumped on her lap

Wondering whether to purr.

She jumped up abruptly

And put on the kettle

Blind-bolted the back door

She’d show him her mettle!

Tom thought about Bella

And shot up the stairs

Crept on to her bedcover

‘Tween her best teddy bears.

In the morning at breakfast

Bella opened each box

She had a present for Daddy

A new pair of socks….

Mum said “Bella, my darling,

There’s a some news that is bad

He’s not coming home,

I’m divorcing your Dad.

Tom went out of the cat-flap

In search of a mouse

“I must look after these women

Now I’m the man of the house”

Vali Macallen (Genoa, Italy)