To My Cat, Observing Prey

You sit there, so attentively, so wholly engrossed in your observation. It astounds me now that I see you. There, on the edge, maybe a half-foot away from you, you watch it, the small green reptile, slink about, stop, look around, and move on, as if nothing is watching him. But you know. You know there is only one thing between you and your prey. But what is it?

Can you conceive of this window? this psychic barrier separating you from your prey, do you know it is there? It is glass merely, but you can see through, you see beyond. Does it astound you? Are you not confused by this magical wall stopping you from playing with this mindless creature? Does it not drive you mad?

I sit here, now, writing this tale, of how extraordinary an event this is to watch. To observe a creature, so small yet powerful as you, tamed by a window of glass; it is almost laughable. But you, who sways back and forth looking, twitching erratically at times, as if you cannot stand it. I wish I could understand. I know you want to reach out with your paw and swat it. Swat out its pitiful little life. Swat it out of existence. Or maybe you want to pounce? Play with your food, or maybe your gift to us for providing you with food.

It is so odd that there is such a fine line between the wild animal and the timid pet. You are not timid, but you are not savage either. I can see it in you now, those eyes, that wild, ferocious look in them, your pupils thin slits, hunting your prey with those eyes. You are so powerful to these weak creatures. But why do you, when you are in the wild, come back?

Is it because you enjoy the comfort? Or do you fancy us gods? Perhaps you miss your servants. I think of this when you return with your catch, left rotting on our doorstep. Do you offer this to us because we are bigger, stronger than you? Or because you feel your pets need sustenance too? It is amazing to think, now, that perhaps you are fully aware of what we say and what we do, but you simply don’t care.

I see you now, fully engrossed, watching this reptile, with its four puny legs, walk quickly across your view. I reach out to touch you, and when you sense me, it breaks the spell. The lizard runs on, and your eyes gain some broadness again. The hunter has returned home. Welcome back Simon.