Black Cat

I worked at my camp this weekend, and on Friday night I had to stand by the entrance to greet people as they drove in for their weekend retreat. Now, in my part of the world, winter is approaching quickly at this time of year, and as the sun was setting and I was standing outside, I was getting pretty cold. And as I was standing there shivering, I heard a noise come from the woods next to the road. I saw a small animal which, in the dimming light, I identified as a black cat. It tentatively walked across the vacant street, and we watched each other; it wary, I curious. Eventually it was out of sight on the other side of the street. I  stood there thinking about this beautiful sleek forest-dwelling cat, and got the idea for this poem, which I wrote early this morning. Enjoy.


Black cat
Mysterious and beautiful
Despised and feared by all; loved by me.

You roam the streets,
hiding from the hatred,
Wondering why you have to be
The way you are,
When I find you: mangy and tired.

I take you home, cradled in my arms.
Food, bath, and rest.
And then we talk.

At first you don't trust me:
Shouldn't I hate you too?
Then you slowly learn the truth:
I want to love you.
You share your pain with me:
Black cat, despised by all;
Love is almost foreign.

...Slowly, slowly you learn
Until you feel comfortable
Crossing my path
or, unashamed, letting me see your black fur.
but the rest of the world?
Another story yet.

I pray, I pray, I pray
That one day
Your own beauty
is revealed to you
And you can go in the streets again:
Finally confident, finally happy
And not worried
about the fake bad luck others fear
Because, most precious black cat,
You were made beautiful,
And I love you that way.


God bless.