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.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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George Avatar
June 20, 2024 at 9:11 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. :)
Greenhough Avatar
June 20, 2024 at 10:04 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.
Jones Avatar
June 7, 2024 at 1:50 AM
Enjoyed your poem about this ferocious feline hunter! Lol
Greenhough Avatar
June 7, 2024 at 2:01 AM
I'm glad you like it. Thanks for stopping by.
Gifford Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 2:08 PM
What a professional hunter your cat is, prey and trophy. Nicely penned, Hilda. Enjoy your day, my friend.
Greenhough Avatar
June 6, 2024 at 3:29 PM
Thank you. She likes hunting.
Crandall Avatar
June 4, 2024 at 6:03 PM
Nice poem Hilda, who says that the same cat can't be cuddly and ferocious. She's multifaceted!
Greenhough Avatar
June 4, 2024 at 6:13 PM
She'd make a good lawyer. Thank you for reading my cat poem. I enjoy your comments.
Wolf Avatar
June 2, 2024 at 7:26 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!
Jones Avatar
June 7, 2024 at 1:52 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!
Greenhough Avatar
June 4, 2024 at 6:12 PM
Cats have many enemies; owls, coyotes, eagles, etc. It isn't always an easy life. Thank you for your comment.
Ashley Avatar
May 30, 2024 at 8:57 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
Greenhough Avatar
May 30, 2024 at 11:15 AM
Thank you. Today, Dee Dee tried to bring a large full grown lizard into the house. I caught it before it got loose.
Pandit Avatar
May 30, 2024 at 4:42 AM
The cat wants show her prowess. A moment well captured, Hilda.
Greenhough Avatar
May 30, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Thank you
May Avatar
May 30, 2024 at 3:00 AM
Cats seem to always bring in their prey, Very nicely penned
Greenhough Avatar
May 30, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Thank you for your comments.
Andresen Avatar
May 30, 2024 at 2:25 AM
- Your cat brings his hunting trophy inside, to show you ... he is proud of his catch :) - hugs
Greenhough Avatar
May 30, 2024 at 3:13 AM
This may be true. At least, it was dead. Live animals are a bigger problem when they get loose.
Buehler Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 8:48 PM
Yikes! That said a mouthful! :0 Nicely written and humorous, Hilda.
Greenhough Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 11:06 PM
Thanks for reading. I don't need to buy as much cat food in summer.
Hind Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 8:10 PM
HA LOL Love cats, but I have seen them bring things indoors, cute poem that made me smile today
Greenhough Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 11:05 PM
I'm happy you liked the poem. Dee Dee is sort of a sushi type cat.
Rodrigues Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 2:11 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!
Greenhough Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 2:42 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.
Kavanagh  Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 1:00 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
Greenhough Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 1:13 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.
Poet Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 10:59 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.
Greenhough Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 11:24 AM
Thank you for comments. She definitely has two faces.
Goldsmith Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 10:58 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..........
Greenhough Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 11:22 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.
M  Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 9:56 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
Greenhough Avatar
May 29, 2024 at 10:35 AM
Thank you.
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