Printer came to me a kitten
And lived to be seventeen
Our home became her kingdom
We were her subjects, and she, our queen.
With stealth, Printer kept my curfew
After midnight, her delicate paws would strike
Grasping the shins of anyone lingering
Man or woman, young and old, alike.
She forever hissed at mother
And continued scratching dad
If a docile cat is good
Printer was surely bad.
A cat so brazen, she discouraged suitors
With a wicked strategy
Once barefoot, her claws met their toenails
No sir, this cat was not sharing me
Printer’s antics did not bring isolation
Imagine! Social apathy increasing her allure
Cat treats and gifts still besieged her
All wasted; only I could make her purr.
Oh, Printer, how I adored you
Your graceful presence wrapped in brown and gold
If only to be more catlike
Discriminating, wise and bold.
Lisa Guillemin (US)
6th January 2013
"Of all the [cat] toys available, none is better designed than the owner himself. A large multipurpose plaything, its parts can be made to move in almost any direction. It comes completely assembled, and it makes a noise when you jump on it."
Stephen Baker