A Sad Cat Riddle

“Men have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. ”But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you tamed”.
Antoine de Saint Exupery, «Little Prince».

Once upon a time I had a cat -
A kitten walked up to my flat,
So little, so hard to ignore…
Why did she choose My door?
I never liked cats, I said “Now what?
You cannot come in! It’s absurd!”
She meowed as she heard my voice.
And I let her in(like I had a choice?!)

Weeks went by as we co-existed,
Her charms and ploys I resisted,
Refused to give in and admit
How much I loved that little “it”.
She made my apartment a Home
Never again I felt there alone.
Many a time I finished early my work
To rush back and take Her for a walk.

Soon She grew up and could leave alone,
And now I waited for Her to come home
She played outside and wondered around
Up for adventure, She usually found.
I worried, looking out the window
She’d be “kidnapped” by some “old widow”.
I spoiled Her with food and toys,
She amused me with tricks and ploys.

And then I had to move across the ocean.
The Customs said “No” to my “silly motion"
They told me “We have a quarantine, you know.
With all the respect, we mean: She can not go...”
I left Her with the other loved ones behind,
The pain in my chest did not change my mind
Later I called my Mom and asked about Cat
She’d change the subject or say She was great
I felt something. was wrong, and Mom finally said
She would always try to run to My old flat,
She wouldn’t eat or play, looked weak and sad,
And in a couple of weeks they found Her... dead.

I killed Her. I did. I committed a crime,
Walking away from Love, so true and sublime.
The question is: “What made me write all that?”
Now that I tell you that I've never had a cat…

Yan Roshin