Must Cats Run Free?

Is this your cat,

I see in my yard?

Beautiful animal;

a sleek rainbow.

Is this your cat,

out and about in the park?

Intelligence shines

in golden eyes.

Is this your cat,

down by the school?

Every muscle is taut,

alive.

Is this your cat,

out in the road?

Taking a gamble

on having nine lives!

**************************

I just drove past

a lifeless form,

Wind stirring the fur

a hand might've stroked..

Empty gaze

stares up at me;

past understanding.

Could it be,

this was your cat?

Originally written in November of 1993, after having seen quite a sad spate of kitties dead in the road. I made a small edit in June of 2010, and with the same sad emotion.

It "kills" me to see that. I almost have to stop the car and grieve over the poor dears.