Animals may seem dumb and mute, but watching them daily makes one realize they are not as dumb.

PART ONE - DIAMOND AND HER KITTENS

She was a proud mother
Of four little kitties,
She told us thereafter
Of her maternal bliss.

Two days later, two died,
She looked and was frantic-
She thought we tried to hide
Her newborns in the attic.

Her mournful mother's cry
Kept gnawing through the night
To her we tried to lie-
Only two saw the light.

Yes, cats know how to count
So we had to explain,
Whatever one discounts-
Mothers cats know the pain.



PART TWO - MACKIE AND KUTCH


So if cats can count,
Well the dogs can too.
In our home there are two
Who guard who goes through.

They know who is still out
They will watch the gate waiting
Not at home hereabouts-
Which master is still missing.

They know by the sound
And can smell miles away,
Their master has been found
And he is on his way.

Their jubilant greeting
Say the number is complete,
They are through with the counting-
And they are ready to eat.


PART THREE - SAMMY THE SPIDER

Now you say this is odd
And there is no proof
Meet a spider lad
Who lives up our roof.
Sammy's home is a web
Of clean measured strands
Numbered lines does he have
Lots of room in his hands.
He can count the distance
Each web from the other
Skills learned by chance
Obviously from his mother.