The Stray Cat

Around that lonely house by the hill The stray cat prowls through His eyes glowing like meteors in the dark And his fur's fawn rough The stray cat strolls to the casement Meowing for succour The owner-occupier sneaks with a rod Ready to hit the eerie animal But the stray cat's glowing eyes meet her She lifts her rod, ready to hit The stray cat runs away The owner-occupier starts to scream: "I had said goodbye to you When I left for two days You ate my chicks And cleared my milk So I punished you; Abandoned you for only four days And divested you from my meals You again ate my chicks and cleared my milk Hah! I threw you to the forest People told me you're feral, That a pet like you should be killed I spared your life but threw you away Now you're here to eat my chicks and drink my milk" The stray cat arrives again, chirruping, weak, desolate And by the casement he meows The owner-occupier sneaks with a rod, ready to hit But this time, the owner-occupier retreats Looks him benignantly His furs are unkempt-straggly Reminiscence of his tender age builds He was good then, not wild She kinds, calls him "Kitty" But the stray cat only hisses, running back She throws him meat, and he takes So she runs to welcome him But the stray cat looks miffed, his tail flickers for violence Paws and claws in the air, ready! The owner-occupier is displeased, she screams: "How should one show sympathy? I give you my meal but you still reject me Go back to the forest, you ferral! I've with me rabbits and parrot" And the stray cat runs away Two weeks, one month, everyday The stray cat returns, take his meal, and go way Eight months, he takes his meals and hide under the rabbitry He plays with insects in the courtyard He sneaks in the dawn He hides under the chair Owner-occupier is happy, "Kitty is back. I own him" And she tiptoes to touch him But the stray cat growls, ready to run So she's fed up "He is as elusive as a butterfly Have your damned meal and get the hell out of me" One year; He rests in the sofa Jumps to the cupboard Chase rats and insects in the house So the owner-occupier tries again: "Here, Kitty!" He chirrups, tail flickers. And she thinks: if I touch him, he runs away One day, she heard him The stray cat was purring close to her feet, in the bed And she was as happy as a seagull in the sea But she still feared to touch him, 'cause he'll leave Until he came and rested on her arms, peacefully.