for william

 

who scratches

who has a black spot on his head

and another deeper, by his tail

who is soft and full

of purrs and kitten dreams

who is warrior with crooked whiskers

who is the bane of the older cat

dignified, paddy pawed older cat

somewhere on the internet

i read this about kittens

“you have a small carnivore.”

william is a carnivore

he is like a raptor,

if you gave him flesh to tear

he would tear it

he attacks his kitten food

and kills it by shaking his head,

he jumps on high tables where the cat’s food is

and sticks his nose in

he will have all the food.

william has half a black nose

and a sliver of sandpaper tongue

who will bite the hand that feeds him

only because it looks like a toy

who hides inside the sofa and emerges

surprise! Here I am!

who does not yet have cat dignity

and so, is always delighted to see me

he shows this by biting my foot

we love him best when he is sleepy

rorschach back to the world

for then he is tame kitten, sweet kitten

not the wild animal that beats

sinew by sinew, drop by drop

in his aching, furry, bestial flesh.