The Family Pet

 

She was a large and friendly cat that lived

Among the family who once enjoyed

Their pet and scratch her head and give her toys.

When small, the boy had claimed the cat as his.

 

And when she was an elfish, playful kitten,

The boy and cat would romp and play till both

Would drop.  Disinterest came with time and growth.

Forgotten, ignored, the old cat now with fleas is bitten.

 

To his sixteenth birthday party his girl friend came.

She started sneezing.  "Allergic to cats," she said.

"Well, I'll fix that!" his drunken father swore.

 

He grabbed the cat and yelled, "So, you're to blame!"

And swiftly swung the blade. Down it sped,

Clean through its mark.  The head rolled to the floor.

 

Barbara Benjamin

Sonnet

BBP204

This poem was inspired by a news item about a drunken father who beheaded his teenage son's pet cat at the teen's birthday party because someone at the party was allergic to cats.