Pantoum of The Cat

Muscled like springs under flesh,
Uncanny eyed, they dart and flash
Where arrogance and neatness mesh,
And the long tail moves, like a lash.

Uncanny eyed, they dart and flash,
They land on feet that rarely slip
And the long tail moves, like a lash
At blood or milk, they like to sip.

They land on feet that rarely slip,
They kneed the ground, they kneed your lap.
At blood or milk, they like to sip.
They do not heed mere puppies' yap.

They kneed the ground, they kneed your lap,
They sniff disdainfully at traces,
They do not heed mere puppies' yap,
And dogs they put through lively paces.

They sniff disdainfully at traces,
Unless something of interest, passed,
And dogs they put through lively paces;
They know they will be first and last.

Unless something of interest, passed,
They gaze the same from tombs of old.
They know they will be first and last.
Beneath the cat's eye who is bold?

They gaze the same from tombs of old,
Bubastis, knew that man was dust.
Beneath the cat's eye who is bold?
It's only dogs, in humans trust.

Bubastis, knew that man was dust -
A lumberly ape, a thing that howls.
It's only dogs, in humans trust.
The priestly cat preserves its scowls.

A lumberly ape, a thing that howls:
Where arrogance and neatness mesh,
The priestly cat preserves its scowls,
Muscled like springs under flesh.