Eyes open, blink, awareness thinks,
“Stay quiet, or the vultures will hear.”
Can’t though, cough exposes
that life has awakened in the house.
Stumble to door, striped Siamese
looks up in adoration, “I’m hungry,”
he flashes with eyes of two blues.
Groan. Bathroom trip, Maine Coon baby
skips in, silky fluffed fur
and curve of tail pronounce
her need to eat, please, right now,
“Feed me”, she squeaks, while
waiting to play the shower curtain game.
Smile. “You silly kitten, I haven’t
even moved ten feet from my room,
you have to wait.” “Feed me,” she swoons.
Oy. Circle the living room, here
come two more. Black Cat
with yellow eyes opens mouth wide,
“Yowwrr”, he demands. “I have to go
outside quick, then feed me,” he winks
with squinted eyes as black whiskers ride high.
Moan. His diva sister, tabbied in gray,
will not shut up, she drives me insane.
“Feed me, feed me, feed me,”
time after time, I can’t abide a feline
who thinks she’s a princess disguised. “Feed me.”
Sigh. Last to lumber forth, but first to dine,
the baby’s kin, colored in kind,
with gray, white and orange,
long-haired and splotched,
proclaim he’s all that, and more.
Rarely he speaks until I near
three doubled dishes holding what is dear
to his mind. “Feed me,” feminine voice extols,
you know I’m the king of this house, feed me.”
“Egad,” I shout, you all get out,
it’s 5:30 am, my coffee’s not made,
my computer unchecked, out, now,
I’ll feed you at 7:00!” I toggle
them out, my foot scooting butts,
hurt glances back are meant to shame,
I don’t care! Everyday it’s the same!
“FEED ME!” Coffee finally in hand,
eyes on the screen, my neck starts to tingle,
I know what it means, the vultures
are circling, some sitting in windows,
one’s clawing the screen, my every move tracked,
I steadfastly ignore the simmering stares.
Sip on my coffee, update my mind,
eventually guilt heads me to a door
to feed vultures of no lore. The
youngest three first, then the two siblings
who aren’t very happy
to be so upstaged. Wings clipped,
licking their lips, all head outside again,
the sun’s coming up.

Erin Moen
1/5/04
Copyright 2003 ©

I'll post a picture later today, kids finally go back to school!!! :)