the cat stalks me as i walk down the path

every now and then the swish of it’s tail gives it away

go away you stupid beast, you don’t want any of this

the movement stops and i wonder if i succeeded

so i continue walking along

night has fallen and the tree branches hang low as the leaves lose their color and the branches seem weary from the autumn transition

a flicker of movement telling me that feline bastard is still on my trail

the cool rainy weather seems to soothe my head from the ache bit inserts it into my chest instead

this sorrow is like walking pneumonia in it’s own peculiar way

my mind drifts to the hospital and my second or fifteenth brush with the spectre of death

i shiver and stop walking

gazing at the moon through a break in the clouds

the cat stops too

ass in the air and tail snapping back and forth

you’ll find no easy meal here, now go chase a squirrel you no good son of a bitch

the wan light of the moon reflects off of it’s eyes and i can see it is not going to heed my shouts

i try and regain my line of thought

something about dying

not important

a last blossom of summer hangs it’s head sadly and i see a smattering of petals on the ground

sad little white bits of once proud beauty

i bend down and whisper thanks to it for the gift of perfection in a mundane world

let it know it’s okay to rest now

it’s job is done

all the while the cat watches me from the rain soaked grass

poor little thing must be soaked and half an idiot for following me this far

the gentle mist picks up steam and i head back

are you coming you goddamned fool

the wet sway of the grass tells me it is

what it could hope to gain by stalking me is beyond my comprehension

but cats do what cats do and humans do what they wish so who am i to really judge

as i get to the door i see it watching from under a car

still of a mind to pounce

so i grab a can of tuna and open it and set it down by the door

it is smart enough to just warily watch but i imagine it is fighting an instinct to devour either the tuna or me so i go in and shut the door

then i casually sneak out the side and hear it purring as it eats

you wouldn’t have liked me nearly as much as that tuna, little girl

she pointedly ignores me and continues to eat

maybe she could smell a sucker a mile away

who’s to say really

and as i lay in bed all i can see is that poor tired flower and cat eyes reflecting the moon

and make a note to buy more tuna

I think i just became a pet