Tigger:
I won't have you mummified because
you are not just your body.
YOU ARE,
The little Scottish fighter who, in kittenhood
defied all odds and survived when folk
said you wouldn't last 2 weeks.
YOU ARE,
The soft sponginess that has claws.
YOU ARE,
Always walking over me in my
chair to get to your eyrie.
YOU ARE,
A cuddleable ginger puss.
YOU ARE,
All legs when you don't
want to be cuddled.
YOU ARE,
The one who wakes me in the small hours
by whiffling your vast whiskers
in my face so that you can
get under the covers.
YOU ARE,
Always coming in with a mouthful of
some poor creature who had
the misfortune to
cross your path.
YOU ARE,
The one who looked after the Burmese
twins across the road when they
were little and defended
them.
YOU ARE,
The ginger supervisor.
YOU ARE,
The light of my life
YOU ARE,
Totally self centred
when you want to be.
YOU ARE,
The one who is far more interested
in my natural functions
than your own.
YOU ARE,
The one who knows that all
the homes in the close
are here purely for
your benefit.
YOU ARE,
Always protecting your great big blundering
human from all the dangers
that are around like the dark
(he can't see in the dark)
and dogs.
YOU ARE,
Always creeping up my chest
for cuddles.
YOU ARE,
Always coming in of an evening smelling
of all the interesting places
you have been.
YOU ARE,
Always yawning full in my face
EEEUGH!!
YOU ARE,
Constantly butting your face into mine
to mark me as your territory.
YOU ARE,
ALWAYS out for the main chance!
YOU ARE,
The one who walks the rooftop and
be damned to the birds that
mob you.
YOU ARE,
Expert at finding the only square
foot of sunlight to settle
down in.
YOU ARE,
The only cat who can come
in damp when it isn't
raining.
YOU ARE,
A fur factory that has to be
brushed nearly every day
(I will soon be able to stuff a pillow)
YOU ARE,
Getting fat because of all the
breakfasts you pinch from
the twins and Grey.
YOU ARE,
TIGGER.
When you have finished with
your body I will return it
to the earth from
whence it came.
Copyright © John Penna, 2004
