ode to spot
by jay chattaway

Felis Catus is your taxonomic nomenclature,

An endothermic quadruped, carnivorous by nature.

Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses

Contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses.

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations,

A singular development of cat communications,

That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection,

For a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection.

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents,

You would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.

And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion,

It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion.

O Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display,

Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.

And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend,

I nonetheless consider you a true, and valued friend.