The cat flap snaps back and Bagheera appears,
swishing her tail and pointing her ears.
She tears up the stairs and mounts the beam,
to perform her athletics like an Olympic scene.
Mowgli wanted all of the animals to get together and be friends.
He enlisted the help of Bagheera, who said they would have to make amends.
Baloo was ready, for he has the easy, generous heart of a happy bear.
Now how to get all of the animals to agree and get there?
Let’s play some Bob Marley, Bagheera suggested. A terrific idea!
With that kind of music, they could even get the pygmy hog Leah.
Kaa was one of the first to arrive, and began to dance off his pants.
Watch it! a tweedle bug said. You are stepping on African plants!
There was some discussion now about whether Shere Khan could come.
Come on! Mowgli urged! That sour sarcastic striped guy needs some fun!
So they sent out the invite, and out of the forest he came with a roar.
Pretty soon he was dancing his stripes off, without any tasting or gore.
Bob Marley’s reggae chilled the entire jungle out that day and the next.
We all discussed it, tasting Haki juice which made some of us vext.
Was Shere Khan really here? I asked a pygmy hog nearby.
Who cares? He grunted, running off with the last pumpkin pie.
A tiny runt who cannot run,
mom kicked me out because I limp.
The big dogs call me dumb, a gimp,
off-beat orphan, claimed by no one.
A Mowgli bumming all around,
Where is that warmer welcome mat?
there sits Bagheera, mama cat;
a foundling's hope perhaps is found.
She takes me in with her own kits;
they share and care for me at last.
Not long and I forget my past;
my name escapes the dog obits.
October 5, 2020
Sponsor: nette onclaud
Contest: In Praise of the Ode
Theme: # 3. About an Orphan
Black softness nestles in his sheen so fab
as warm purrs vibrate his feline aura
Gash-like, a red neck-sash swings a gleaming
heart-shaped pendant, swaying a dangled flash.
Ebon stretches as the midnight creature
elongating his compacted frame, lithe.
Reaching, he uncurls a bounding jaguar
awake to the moon’s abracadabra
(10/31/2019: For my Halloween companion in tonight's sickle moon)
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