
Miss Jordan Taylor
Loden's Elegy
O Loden
My darling feline
Grassy brassy eyes
Long silky fur
Feathery tips of velvety ears
Bushy tail
The bones crooked
A bent kink on the end
Four extra toes
One for each paw
Grimacy smile
When you chance allowed a pet
You never hissed
Or purred
You saved your sweet birdsong trill
For only the most special occasions
—
You were the only cat I know who
Loved lettuce
Fruit popsicles
Beets
Other things that cats are not
Supposed to like
—
You laid by a hole in the kitchen floor
Waiting
For some perchance mouse
Or other creature
Waiting
Then in a frenzy
You lost your patience
Your whole front paw disappeared
Up to the shoulder
In wood
Frantically groping
For the awaited prey
You must’ve know something
The rest of us didn’t
Because nothing
Will ever ever
Come out of that hole
—
You wandered the vacant hallway
Of the sleeping house
The only time
Your delicate mew
Was harsh and resounding
Searching for a friend
I don’t know why
You never played with us
When we are awake
—
You ran
As if a terrible beast
Was behind you
Round and round
Everywhere
If anyone
Stepped your way
—
When you were hungry
You scavenged the kitchen counters
Even if someone was standing there
Watching you
—
At dinner
We had to be careful
If we left our seats
For just one moment
You were ready
And took your place
At the table
Like a person
—
Opening closed doors
Was your favorite pastime
You were master
Then why did you still
Get stuck in trees
For days
—
Loden
We named you for your
Grassy brassy eyes
—
Most cats are very good
At grooming themselves
You weren’t
We had to cut off
Some of your fur
A dreadlock
Then that place was
Bald
—
Sometimes
You stuck out
Your little pink tongue
And left it there
Did you forget
—
You were small
That didn’t make sense
You were a Maine Coon
It’s okay though
It wasn’t your fault
—
You had seizures
It was scary
The still shaking
Curled and stiff
Your grimacy smile
Frozen and trembling
I turned away
And heard you
Clattering against the chairs
Falling off the bed
Thumping down the stairs
Stop
Your brain was already hurt
Finally
You were released
Panting
Eyes wide open
Looking around
For a long time
Then cuddly cuddly
Pet me you begged
Then hungry
Up on the counter
I would’ve shooed you
But I was too glad
That you were alive
My darling feline
