the quirky cats of ruritania

dogs are favourites in nineteenth century novels
think of holmes's dog, the hound of the baskervilles,
on that southwestern moor and think also of all

the tales of other writers praising faithful hounds
cats are less frequent but they must have been there
in mrs hudson's parlour in sir henry's barn

or in the kitchens of schloss hentzau in deepest
ruritania the cats of hope licking their whiskers
comforting prisoners in zenda the cats knowing

that things change that walls are not eternal
that cream and much petting await the better mouser
but capable of love to all that feed them and all

they know love cats and that is true of prisoners
needing that contact needing the fleeting warmth
of feline affection in their solitary cells