ben

(click on photo to enlarge)

his black is the black

of the beady eyes

of well-loved

but long-lost

childhood teddy bears

shiny as if

he'd polished each hair

carefully

in the early morning

promise of the day

a lustrous compilation

too beautiful

to be called

merely a "coat"

much too elegant

to be called "fur"

the envy of

the prince of darkness

Ben is dressed

in a garment

fitting to his station---

the cat who came

to visit

several halloweens ago

and decided not to leave

he condescends

to appear

from his private feline

hiding places

only when

the laundry

(especially the white

laundry)

is done

and warm and

on the table

waiting to be folded

because of his beauty

(and great conceit)

Ben never imagines

that this blatant interference

with the hoped-for

household order

may not be

happily embraced...

* * * * * * *