FELINALIA

Cat licks
the dust or mud
right off his gloves
and nods, licks off

the Wet out of his coat
like threat,
and all the stink
out of his walk,

the terror from his stalk-
ing the cat licks, sans sulk,
all of the danger off his talk,
milk from his bowl--cat licks--

all leaves that fill the Fall,
the hand that fed him, and all
of the mightiest things of Man

Cat licks even his Self-Control,
licks even all his Whims,
licks all the curtains, trees,
roads, floors, cars, walls, Goals,
fools... ALL the Cat licks,

even the Wise man too,
licks all the furniture,
why, even his own very pitfalls
vanish where Cat licks
the world's sprints, squints,
mints, all of his fingerprints,
even Life's thinnest tints!

Cat licks all of the slightest
hints, lows, highs, brims,
rims, entire Whole and half-sung
old & new Hymns, fully
all Cat licks... yes,

all your cousins, nephews,
nieces, uncles, aunts, wives,
husbands, and all roles (and
even performances) in between

with gall, all odds--Cat licks
it All! Yes, Everything! All wills,
thrills, chills, all spills the
Cat stills... and licks: That's
why (as long as fears exist)
released... we'll fear The Cat
more than any another Beast.