Lil Black Kitty (Abandoned)

Lil black kitty's watery yellow eyes, tear-shaped waxing gibbous, hold my gaze deflecting to her deflated belly; nipples bulging

Hind legger kneads my fleece sweater, inch by inch; overgrown front claws nick my overthrow, catching fabrics; stick, stuck, unstuck

Chicken gumbo simmers in an early autumn breeze; a neighboring open window sends our wrinkled noses inhales of slow-cooked southern spices

Us porch sitters, lick our chops; my taste buds savor air-smacked peppers and onions while lil kitty chomps on hand-fed treats

Muffled mews, newborn cries- pause all else, one hiss and a scurry, a stray cat abandons me; a story she's heard before, I suppose...

...

My poem reflects a real-life scenario. My neighbor recently moved and left her pregnant cat. I began caring for her and then last week she went off and had her kittens somewhere nearby. She returns to eat, and another neighbor aids in caring for her. Our mission is to find the kittens and get mum and babies help and a new home.

As a cat mum and animal advocate, I urge you to read this article. You probably already know that cats are unfortunately abandoned all too often, but did you know that black cats especially get a bad rap, even in our modern time?

Thanks for reading! Please do not abandon your pets; there is always another way!