Feral

As I walked by
I caught a glimpse of
orange tabby
sitting just outside
my basement door

Looking in…
longingly
I thought the dogs
had finished him
or her
years ago

And yet it survives
to catch me in its
big brown gaze
before walking
away

I hurried to the upper
deck to follow its
massive shoulders and
trunk
mangy fur, probably
rabid.
It walked with a limp
from some previous
fight …I think it won…

I was curious about
that tabby until it sat down
turned to look at me, holding
my attention with brown
hard eyes
and piteously mewed

…my heart broke for him
because I wondered if he
missed warm bowls of milk
and a snuggle in a lap…or if
in that mew, he simply had
a moment of weakness for a
kind heart

I’ve not seen him since
but I know I will