Panther

I knew your mama
she was a fiesty one
street smart to an art
An attitude to match the stare
as if to say
I dare you.

I dare you to tell me i don't belong here

I knew your mama
Every time our paths crossed
on the stairs i had to climb
she'd stop

Eyes raised to meet mine

Never a trace of fear
the noise, the kids and i drew near
She'd watch us encroach upon HER space
HER place

As if we were the strays
As if she'd let US stay.

I told Zane so many times
Don't feed them, you'll encourage it
I'm not cleaning up that shit!

But i may have poured her a bowl of water
on those days when it was way to hot
accidentally walked past and dropped
a bit of food just at her feet
sometimes i'd watch to make sure she'd eat

Your mama
she was fearless
she'd stand her ground at every noise
dark, gracious, unafraid and poised
those yellow eyes
just watching

When he told me he'd seen her
(i hadn't seen her for a while
hoped maybe she had found a home
a place to call her own)

She's dead he says,
kinda sad, she was such a pretty thing

But Your mama, she was fierce
and dignified
never one to be kept inside

She hid you there, and i wish we'd found you
earlier than we did
maybe then  you'd have that chance
to live the way she lived

Fire and freedom
in a street cat disguise