Was it really only a couple months ago
That this homeless black and calico cat
Meandered into our lives?
We never knew from hence she came
Wary at first, yet her sweet temperment
Reached and touched both our hearts
Even though we both realized
We couldn’t really claim her
We left food and water outside for her
Allowing her to come and go as she wished
Our kindness bolstered her trust in us
To where she decided to further
Entwine her fortunes with ours
By giving birth to seven kittens on our porch
Under the chilly night clouds of December 4th
Five orange striped, one black, one calico- shaded

Quite the feat for momma cat, small as she was
We protectively watched over them all
And soon it became such a joy to come home
And find seven pairs of eyes gazing up at us
From the depths of their cardboardbox home
And momma cat waiting patiently nearby
We delighted in their antics and playfulness
As they explored the limits of the porch
All too soon came the day that was foretold to happen
Our time of fostering this little family was done
Holding back tears we said goodbye yesterday
To five orange striped, one black, one calico-shaded
And their sweet tempered little mother
Secure that they will all be adopted
The silence of this cold January Sunday is strange
Yet we are kept warm by the photos and our memories
And the thirty two footprints in our hearts

©Lynn Kupfer
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