huck

SUITS AND FLOWERS

On the Friday, four were born
in a cupboard
after we shut the mother out of the room
for interrupting the mornings sport
(we thought she was curious
when really she sought advice
on her growing malaise)

Nobody expected such a kindle
and it promised to make
the assigning of beverage sobriquets
more interesting

On the Saturday I learned by
a poignantly passive message from my baby
that two had already died
and the mother was only bemused
by the birth and death

That damn pet is trying to ruin the peace
I thought
by failing for once to be perfect
and now I have to be at least
compassionate

But this worry gave way
when I gave a thought for
the poor little ones who hadnt had much
of a chance, and all I could do was wonder
what do you do with dead kittens?
like a foreigner observing
strange customs
with a shading hand at his brow

The next few moments were spent
shamefully stifling the image
of neighbourhood cats with suits
and flowers
and I had the impression
the imaginary scene had been
put there for me as a small glimpse
of a big joke