Boris

Born: September 1, 1997

Died: January 29, 2006

For Boris, my first and only cat...I'll love you forever!

What a particular miracle is a cat,
Wrapped in parti colour,
Softer than milkweed down and warm,
Resonant with purring hallelujahs.

What a moving miracle is a cat,
Claw-pawed or kneading softly,
Kitten shadow wrestling or ice-eyed hunter,
Walking the fence between the wood and the tended corn.

What a sleeping miracle is a cat,
Belly up, paws half staff,
Eyes serenely closed
Breathing careless breaths - but step near and in a flickering,
Alert in readiness to fight, to flee.

What a loving miracle is a cat,
Leaning towards affection,
As to a source of sustenance,
Dearer than milk,
As if lacking it were death
And drawing out in response
A human love forgetting gulf of species
Head to head the minds respond
Each to its nature and together.

(c) Sonia Brock 1987

Sheila Mendoza