She begged for it, pleaded,
like everything alive does.
Scratch at the door,
singing her little sermon,
tail ticking time.
Green eyes flashing,
centuries of instinct.
So I put her out.
Mesh cage on the porch.
Sunlight thin.
World almost safe.
I left her there,
like every other sunshine promise day.
Groceries. Yogurt. Tuna. Cheap bread.
Another thing crossed off.
Then the sky went mean while I was gone.
Rain came down,
like it had a grudge with the ground.
No warning. No mercy.
Just Iowa saying,
Happy Independence Day.
When I got back,
she was soaked through.
Fur clumped like regret.
Tiger stripes,
blended and blurred.
Sitting low. Eyes flat.
A little scared
and judgmental.
Like I’d signed a contract
and reneged.
I opened the door.
I carried her in
and put her down.
She swaggered off.
Dignity dragging.
Sloshing behind her.
Didn’t even blink.
Half meow, half hiss.
“You motherfucker,”
under her breath.
Then went inside
like she owned everything.
Including my bad decisions.
And maybe she does.
Because that’s the deal.
You want the outside.
You get it.
And sometimes it pours so hard.
You forget
what you were asking for.
You come back in wet,
exhausted.
Fur matted.
Pride forgotten
in a little puddle.
-
Author:
Thomas W Case (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: July 7th, 2026 07:44
- Comment from author about the poem: My latest book, Aluminum Cowboys, is free on Kindle Unlimited.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 27
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Paul Bell, Kevin Hulme, Tristan Robert Lange, cellinic
Offline)
Comments10
Another great poem with a common feel of everyday grit and life if one is sensitive enough to notice it. Well done
Thank you, my friend.
Garfield’s got nothing on this porch cat!
Thanks
Welcome
Nicely written, your poem explores the experience of a pet cat that longs for the outside world, only to face the harsh realities of nature after being let out.
ty
Good write T.
Thank you.
Yes, that big bad world might just be all you thought it was.
Now that you've conquered it, you can lie beside the log fire and purr in comfort.
Thanks, my friend.
I think the Cat can represent ourselves in that the outside World can be cruel. . Enjoyed.
Thanks, my friend.
Wow, Thomas…this one made me laugh out loud while also landing an oddly perfect little truth about wanting things and regretting them. Excellent job! 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Thank you.
There's a whole lot of truth squeezed into this page Thomas .. and I very much approve of it .. Neville
Thanks, my friend.
A poem with deep meanings and senses, overwhelming by their humanism and integrity. best wishes, my fave
Thank you.
Humans also have the tendency to be ungrateful so the cat is just following its natural instincts
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