On Top Of

Daily Note

Every day, a photograph, a poem. Our neighbor has two cats: Sparkles and Theo. The neighborhood has three stray cats. We call them ‘the boys,’ and named the twins, Fluffy and Monk [he stays away from all the others], and Pie [black and white: piebald].

When the weather was far below the freezing point this winter, we began feeding the boys, and made an outdoor enclosure for them to keep warm. And so, of course, we could not stop feeding them.. Once responsibility is taken, it must be continued; they depend on us. They are still untouchable, yet demanding for twice-a-day feeding time.

Of course, the neighbor’s cats — and the blackbirds, turkey, deer, and raccoons— also stop by for a snack. Lesson: Call Fish and Wildlife instead of feeding strays.

Now, Theo, when he comes over, he chooses the high spot of any area, to be away from and higher than the other critters. We see him on top of the deck boxes, the trash can, the patio chairs, and, today, the boat. I texted the family with this picture, “We have a new captain.” But the real story is, that I finally dubbed him, “Ontopof,’ because Theo is always on top of something.

And so, a poem….

Poetry

On Top Of

The O’ neighbor’s cat
has a preference:
be higher than others—
on top of patio chairs,
on top of deck boxes,
on top of trash cans,
on top of the boat,
so we changed his name
from Theo, to “Ontopof”

Sheri Edwards
06.09.23 161.365.23
Poetry/Photography [See-Frame-Focus]

#clmooc #smallpoems #neighborcat

Theo, the neighbor’s cat, is now captain of the boat, lounging on the cover.