Wind howled about the eaves,
Rattling windows and banging shutters,
Drenching rain fell in heavy sheets
Overflowing the rusty gutters.
I sat by my fire warm,
Engrossed in trivial reading,
I planned not to mind the storm,
And in this I was succeeding.
I dozed off and on that eve,
Reclining in my overstuffed chair.
No worries beset my thoughtful brow,
And I was content to have not a care.
The flames threw shadows on the walls;
They danced for only me,
Twirling in a darksome waltz
Tween dream and reality.
I watched the fire and curling smoke
Crawl up the blackened flue,
Stirring ashes with the iron
To ignite the flames anew.
Just as I turned, my eye was caught
By movement barely missed.
Just my shadow playing tricks;
The moment passed, dismissed.
Again I turned to face the fire ...
A shadow shifted in the gloom!
Thunder rumbled overhead
As lightning lit the darkened room.
The room was cast in blinding white
But for one second more;
It was then I spied the curious tracks
That puddled on my floor.
Heart and mind began to race;
I surmised I was not alone.
What creature must have wandered in
To invade my humble home?
With heart in throat, I looked about,
Afraid of what I might see;
Look! Look there! Two shining eyes
Staring back at me!
I heard a low and feline growl
Issue from beneath my overstuffed chair.
A wet, black paw with muddy claws
Lashed out at empty air.
A cat... A cat! How in the heavens
Did it find its way in here?
I tried to trace its muddy tracks ...
But they just seemed to disappear.
Ah well, no matter of that now,
There were more pressing matters at hand.
The matted mess of fur and mud
Hissed and growled again.
"Come out from there!" I nearly shouted,
My voice gruff and stern.
The wretched beast glared calmly back,
Not offering to make a turn.
A rueful smirk came to my lips.
My gentle nature emerged.
"Alright," I said. "You win, you win,"
My anger quickly purged.
I'd feed the pitiful, starving beast,
Let it remain here for the night,
But out the door it would surely go,
I decided, at first light.
A saucer of cream and leftover roast
I scavenged for the cat.
I put it by the toasty fire
Then retreated to the shadows and sat.
Hunger overrode its fear
And the cat crept slowly out.
It lapped the cream and ate the meat
While it warily looked about.
I inched my way back to the chair
As the cat kept careful watch.
I pretended not to notice him
As I absently sipped my scotch.
"Well, my lucky friend," I said,
"I grant you a reprieve.
You may rest here by my fire,
but in the morn you take your leave."
The beast, seeming to understand,
Stretched out before the fire
And then began to clean away
All the filth and mire.
A shining coat came into view
As the feline cleaned.
The blackest satin fur revealed
As it licked and preened.
"Not bad," I said admiringly
To my purring chap.
In one swift motion the beast then leapt
To land gracefully in my lap.
I arched my brows in faint surprise
As he curled up on my chest.
The constant purr relaxed my nerves
As, I too closed my eyes to rest.
My dreams were filled with visions
Such as I'd never seen before,
My feline friend a constant guide
Through the realms of evermore.
We talked of past and present,
Of what the future would come to be.
Never once did this seem odd.
It was strangely familiar to me.
The next thing I remember,
I awoke to the sun's bright rays,
My vision slowly clearing
From my dreaming daze.
The cat perched at the window,
Looking over his shoulder at me.
I scratched my head, bemused,
Confused as I could be.
"What say you now?" I asked the cat,
"Shall you stay or shall you run?"
His only reply was a lazy yawn
As he stretched out in the sun.
I never questioned him again
In the years he remained with me.
My familiar friend is with me still,
Just as he was meant to be.

... Moone

Copyright © Dwareniel Moone