Apartment Cats, by Thom Gunn (1929 - ) (Dedicated to Cleo and Cassa Palmer, of Andover, MA) TThe Girls wake, stretch, and pad up to the door. They rub my leg and purr; One sniffs around my shoe, Rich with an outside smell, The other rolls back on the floor - White bib exposed, and stomach of soft fur. Now, more awake, they re-enact Ben Hur Along the corridor, Wheel, gallop; as they do, Their noses get wild, their bodies tense, Their usual prudence seemingly withdraws. And then they wrestle; parry, lock of paws, Blind hug of close defense, Tail-thump, and smothered mew. If either, though, feels claws, She abruptly rises, knowing well How to stalk off in wise indifference.

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