Little Ginger
Four new kittens
periscope heads
from the old gym bag pile
molding in my cupboard awhile
I disentangle blind and slimy mice-sized
pouches, bags of skin with
wet ears flattened back on scalps
their mother mews confused
desperate to return them
to the dark and cozy canvass den
Three are destined to find homes
but the little ginger is a Viking
who weeks old turns to fighting
clawing at the built-in mirrors
stalking up the avocado tree
a ruler and a hunter
preying past the front door
till I find him one day by the roadside
stilled but dignified
the neighbor’s children
ignorant of Viking custom
dig a backyard grave
say little prayers, teary, terse
for a cross of sticks in bone dry earth
Inspired by: “Dead cat poem,” by Ann Alexander
Roger Patulny is a Sydney based academic specialising in sociological research on emotions and loneliness. He is a published creative writer and poet, and is the Chief Editor for Authora Australis. He has published fiction and poetry in numerous outlets including The Suburban Review, Cordite, Poets Corner InDaily, Dwell Time, The Rye Whisky Review, the Mark Literary Review, and Silver Birch Press. Twitter – @rpatulny
Excerpts and links to Roger’s published creative works can be found here.
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