so I wrote about all sorts of serious stuff, then encountered an advertisement with these cats who were presented with the stuff of perfect pleasure, then found myself writing about them and that, and then wrote of dogs as well for ecumenicity’s sake—enjoy (please)


cosmic cats
(dramatic dogs)

1
nice cats
noisy
cats
could be siblings
certainly assuaged by
special cat food

mom has used the last
for them
and they are happy
for the moment

thankfully
dad is at the store
getting more

good food
longer-happy cats
what more
could
pet parents want

2
cats
have a k
and comic sound
while
dogs
is softer
and adorable

both were wild once
and even
now
we should take
care

for impulse
becomes instinct
upon
how they’re treated

so
treat them like home
and they will live with you
and guard you
love you
in their trained
and wild
ways

3
there are allergies
also pills
and sprays
and shots

I was allergic
to my cat
which I found out
ten years into having her
so guess who stayed

she said I could
as well

we keep our pets
and they
keep us
and so the ordered
more chaotic
world
is kept a little better
for a while
longer

c l couch


(our pets, of course, include more kinds of creatures)

photo by Callum Shaw on Unsplash