Our Cat

remember the time
when our cat ran away?
we hollered her name
up the neighbor's driveway
& drove twice a week to the SPCA
to check every cage
full of kittens & strays

you made some flyers
& copies to go
with her cutest picture
our number below
we hung them from windows
& telephone poles
'til I'm pretty sure
we bummed out everyone we know

a whole month went by
& it rained everyday
& most of our flyers
got moldy & grey
& somebody found her
a few blocks away
she was skinny & scared
but she was ok

remember the strangers
who thought they were wise?
who promised she'd be back
'cause cat's have 9 lives
we tried to grateful
for stupid advice
they don't come back sometimes
but this time it was fine