Poem: "Why Cats Have Nine Lives"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This poem came out of the September 6, 2022 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by Anthony Barrette. It also fills the "Bridge" square in my 9-6-22 card for the Land of Oz Bingo fest.


"Why Cats Have Nine Lives"


To a cat,
every door
is something
they want to be
on the other side of.

The bridge between
life and death is just
another door to them.

There were always
cats at it, meowing

to be let in,
to be let out,
to be let in,
to be let out ...

So Death gave up
and installed a cat flap.

Comments

[chanter1944]

*laughs!* Sir Terry's Death probably installed the cat flap in the door. He would.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That totally fits. He got on fine with the Death of Rats, after all.

[arthur_p_dent]

Yuppers! Got 3 that each have a door they don't like being in the wrong side of. XD

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

It seems to be the nature of the beast. Like how mice like to run into small dark holes, cats like to be on the other side of every door ever.

It makes me wonder if they'd be unbeatable or terribly bad at the Doorway Exercise. Are doors conspicuous to cats? Or is it reflexive and they don't actually notice the door they are going through?

[siliconshaman]

Yup.. that's why my door is always open (during the day and if it's not storming)

Traffic on the Rainbow Bridge is two way and they probably set up lanes. Right for arrivals, left for departures..

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Cats would need their own bridge because of all the two-way traffic. Everything else could probably share a one-way bridge ... well, maybe with different levels, so the hedgehogs don't get stepped on.

Re: Yes ...

[siliconshaman]

Quantum Superposition. There is only one bridge... and we all travel it alone (in either direction). All alone, surrounded by thousands of other souls that we cannot see.

Well, usually. A soul bond supersedes that, and a few may travel together, until they reach their destination.

[apachefirecat]

This. Is. HILARIOUS!! LOL

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm so glad you liked this. :D

[the_broken_tower]

Yet another reason why Death loves cats: They're the only visitors that come and go... And come and go again.

- Achilleus (he/him)

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

That makes sense. Cats winding a figure-8 around Death's ankles.