Uncertainty
Comfort appears to await her
from an outstretched hand
But she skirts the perimeter of all humanity
with leery glances,
pacing, never still.
For there is a certain safety
in the freedom to run.
Her look is weary.
She has known the pain
of trusting too soon.
There may come a time when
she will never trust again.
Though there is the memory of
gentle hands and understanding eyes..
Survival moves her limbs
to seek shelter, to run away
from sudden wrath, to not feel the hurt
when the back door closes
never to open again.
She continues to seek
the hollow where she might find
peace from constant fear.
She no longer believes
that there is more to an outstretched hand
than passing compassion
from a morsel dropped.
For no one has the time or desire
to love and nurture her back to health
or to accept her in spite
of all the scars.
She sits briefly, eyes closing with exhaustion.
She licks her tired paws.
She is hoping this one face
will be there again tomorrow.
That gentle voice calling again and again
inviting.
Dare she hope the nightmare will end
and she will find
kindness, acceptance, understanding
of her unavoidable fear to trust?
But for now
she turns
and moves on.
copyright 2006 spb
Susan Bagley
So sad...reminds me of the stray cats living around the dumpsters where we take our trash (no trash pickup at the curb in the boondocks). I try to take some food to them when I go.
Excellent poem, Susan, like you, I love animals, that is why I wrote a poem dedicated to my "LOVELY MINDY' most of the times you feel more secure in the company of a pet than in the company of another human being...Keep it up! Love and Peace, Romeo
Your empathy for this poor cat is admirable and as I am a lover of cats it nearly moved me to tears. My own ragdoll cat is beside me in comfort and yet he could be one of these stray cats. God Bless you for writing this Susan.