tiffy

Heavy and ominous thunderheads like rumbling biker gangs riding low
Obscuring the sizzling noon-day sun, disperse the shimmery air o’er the road
Like incantations to summon dust devils the gusts of breezes sweep down
Swirling, they scoop up flocks of brittle-brown rain-tree leaves roosting on the ground

Reminds me of a long ago day and a sadly abandoned kitten
Whose shrill mewing tugged my heartstrings and its plaintive cries my call to action
Tracking down that high-pitched squeal I found a tiny fur-ball with massive lungs
On his haunches he implored: “Will you leave me to drown if a flood should come?”

I climbed down that drain, cooed soothing sounds as I reached for the little fella
But the feisty tyke - the size of my hands - hissed and batted at my finger
Blanketing him with my handkerchief, he stopped fighting back once blindfolded
I gathered the precious cargo, stowed him in the backpack on my shoulder

Made it home before the storm, in my room I hid the furry contraband
Purring on my chest – paws outstretched to stake his claim on me - his promised land
From pauper to prince, he grew into this perfection of a grey tabby
Always with head held high and tail erect, noble feline I named Tiffy