Home » Poems » Hilda Greenhough » The Slender Tail

The Slender Tail

The long, green tail twitching on the kitchen floor Fills me with disgust, so I throw it outside. I'm aware that my obligate carnivore Has a secret that she disdains to confide. The cat grabbed the lizard while crouched in the shade. She enjoyed a meal of reptilian feast, Yet she kept the tail, brought in to be displayed. My sweet, cuddly cat, my predatory beast.

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Valsa George

Date: 6/20/2024 9:11:00 PM

The one thing I hate to have in my house are lizards. They are so repulsive. It is nice that you have a cat that preys on these ugly reptiles. She is so clever to have brought its tail inside... as a trophy of her adventure. :)

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 6/20/2024 10:04:00 PM

Yes, she is a hunter. I like lizards. I think of them as snakes with legs. I do prefer that lizards stay outside. Thank you for your comment.

Karen Jones

Date: 6/7/2024 1:50:00 AM

Enjoyed your poem about this ferocious feline hunter! Lol

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 6/7/2024 2:01:00 AM

I'm glad you like it. Thanks for stopping by.

Zyrool Gifford

Date: 6/6/2024 2:08:00 PM

What a professional hunter your cat is, prey and trophy. Nicely penned, Hilda. Enjoy your day, my friend.

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 6/6/2024 3:29:00 PM

Thank you. She likes hunting.

David Crandall

Date: 6/4/2024 6:03:00 PM

Nice poem Hilda, who says that the same cat can't be cuddly and ferocious. She's multifaceted!

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 6/4/2024 6:13:00 PM

She'd make a good lawyer. Thank you for reading my cat poem. I enjoy your comments.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 6/2/2024 7:26:00 PM

Fine repudiation of the 'all cats are cuddly phony-baloney!' THIS is the cat's meow: The growl of the hunter.... Myself, once watched a cat capture, dismantle, and eat a rabbit. One of the bloodiest manglings I've ever seen. Bravo, Hilda!

Karen Jones
Date: 6/7/2024 1:52:00 AM

Wow I can’t imagine a cat eating a bunny but if I was there I’d probably have to turn away or be tempted to save the bunny Gershon!

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 6/4/2024 6:12:00 PM

Cats have many enemies; owls, coyotes, eagles, etc. It isn't always an easy life. Thank you for your comment.

Susan Ashley

Date: 5/30/2024 8:57:00 AM

Dear Hilda, your well expressed poem was viscerally felt. Fantastic rhymes and vivid imagery tell the story. Either kitty wants a souvenir or is leaving you a gift (eww.. haha!) Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/30/2024 11:15:00 AM

Thank you. Today, Dee Dee tried to bring a large full grown lizard into the house. I caught it before it got loose.

Vijay Pandit

Date: 5/30/2024 4:42:00 AM

The cat wants show her prowess. A moment well captured, Hilda.

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/30/2024 7:02:00 AM

Thank you

Joseph May

Date: 5/30/2024 3:00:00 AM

Cats seem to always bring in their prey, Very nicely penned

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/30/2024 7:02:00 AM

Thank you for your comments.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 5/30/2024 2:25:00 AM

- Your cat brings his hunting trophy inside, to show you ... he is proud of his catch :) - hugs

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/30/2024 3:13:00 AM

This may be true. At least, it was dead. Live animals are a bigger problem when they get loose.

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 5/29/2024 8:48:00 PM

Yikes! That said a mouthful! :0 Nicely written and humorous, Hilda.

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/29/2024 11:06:00 PM

Thanks for reading. I don't need to buy as much cat food in summer.

Paige Hind

Date: 5/29/2024 8:10:00 PM

HA LOL Love cats, but I have seen them bring things indoors, cute poem that made me smile today

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/29/2024 11:05:00 PM

I'm happy you liked the poem. Dee Dee is sort of a sushi type cat.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 5/29/2024 2:11:00 PM

We reel from your reproach, thinking it’s the dog (or cat), finding it’s the beast. At least it wasn’t a gator!! Still it was reptillian. Have a wonderful day! Keep writing and we will keep reading!

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/29/2024 2:42:00 PM

She's a good cat but she does eat lizards. I've heard that gators are also a good food source. Thanks for reading another one of my cat poems.

David Kavanagh

Date: 5/29/2024 1:00:00 PM

I do love these visceral ones Hilda, especially your reaction and disgust with the trophy your cat left for you, nature is so strange when seen through human eyes, gotta Fave this one for your now legendary predatory beast, cheers David

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/29/2024 1:13:00 PM

Thank you very much. Both of us are thrilled with your kind remarks. I've written several poems about her. She just keeps coming up with more ideas.

Sotto Poet

Date: 5/29/2024 10:59:00 AM

A compelling poetry on animals' duality, particularly the cat's instincts as a domestic pet and predator, Hilda. It contrasts the cat's benign and friendly pet behavior with its carnivorous hunting instincts.

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/29/2024 11:24:00 AM

Thank you for comments. She definitely has two faces.

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 5/29/2024 10:58:00 AM

I enjoyed reading your creative cat write. When I was a kid, I had a cat eat a lizard. We found her dead with the dead lizard coming out of the mouth. Have a Blessed Day Writing Away..........

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/29/2024 11:22:00 AM

I googled cats eating lizards. It said that sick lizards can make cats sick, but a healthy lizard is ok. I hope she will be selective. A cat has a good sense of smell and should be able to differentiate. At least, that's what I told her. Thank you for your comments.

Deb M

Date: 5/29/2024 9:56:00 AM

Ewww l wouldn't like that either Hilda….a green tail twitching on my floor!! Great poem of all the aspects of your pet… your sweet cuddly cat! Enjoyed…Debx

Hilda Greenhough
Date: 5/29/2024 10:35:00 AM

Thank you.