By Yatiraj Ramanujam
I cannot hear the returning mother cat meow,
Where is she? The short-tempered mother cat?
Where are your babies? I cannot hear them.
How they used to meow incessantly,
Such an irritating lot I considered them to be.
I provide refuge, and yet they scream at my own authority?
And who might you be, you fat mother cat?
Hissing, showing me your fangs.
No thank you, I do not care for exquisite dentistry.
Your green goblin eyes — you do rob just like a goblin.
You rob me of my masculinity.
I own the box that you inhabit, you ungrateful mother cat,
You are lucky I allow you to be.
I supervise your four kittens when I do not see you in sight;
Your kittens are far better looking than your hideous bite.
Thank me. I give your babies life.
Hush, you do not scare me. I stay away,
For I carefully, meticulously, choose my honoured, esteemed company.
You do not fit in, you impatient mother cat. I remain unfrightened.
How dare you take your babies and disappear this morning?
We have not even gotten to clearing our dues.
I expect remuneration.
I expect to boast of your presence.
Your presence as the guest gave the host much adulation.
I ask myself,
Did you leave because of my unwelcome interruption to your unending nursing? You wear no clothes, you poor mother cat.
I left, nonetheless, what more could I do?
It is not my right to witness all that happens under my roof.
I must admit, I fret when I saw two left, two and you gone.
Have you left them in my care?
No, certainly not, I could not, I would not,
Be a caregiver whilst being a care-taker.
Your babies cried without respite, perplexed me to a great extent.
You deaf mother cat, how did you miss my scramble, my rumble
To go fetch a pail of milk for them?
They too undermine my authority, refusing to drink what I bestow.
Crying and crying without relenting, I gently had to relent.
The sorry realisation did not go unmissed — you still had greater power than I.
I returned to see you carrying the final one away by the scruff of its neck.
Was it not cruel, for it to hang so perilously from your clenched teeth?
I would have been a far more responsible caregiver,
Ah! What would you know? You are, after all, a condescending mother cat.
Take them! Take them away!
No sooner would I want to be rid
Of a guest that has far outstayed its ephemeral welcome.
Oh mother cat, I cannot lie, I was never as hateful as I project.
I am honoured for you having chosen me — spoilt for choice you were.
Amidst thousands of abodes, I was the fortunate one, yet,
I blew it all away in a drunken stupor. I apologise, mother cat,
For having thought ill, for having thought unwell of you.
The learned you taught the uneducated I, lessons invaluable.
I remain indebted to you for having chosen my harbour,
And know that, if you ever were to return,
I’d stand at my open door, and prostrate myself for your welcome.