The Cats of Time

By A J Dalton

Illustrated by Jennifer Weigel

Time is like a mouse

to be played with–

in the right hands

or paws, more precisely

Hence they’ve been worshipped

and still are in certain quarters

like my own house

where I have so little choice

It skitter-zags across the floor

to gnaw hungrily at the store

droppings of days, months and decades

left in its hurried wake

We know it’s been there

can trace its tell-tail passage

rat-ravening upon our lives

a starve-riddled vermin plague

I must find myself a true guardian

and another? Just to be safe

my feline furies and fates

will be waiting at the door!