THE KITTEN PLAYED VIOLIN

There once was a kitten who played violin

among the cat circuit he was quite "in".

Cats came from miles to witness the show

and dogs came too, those in-the-know.

Curtains were strung 'tween two garbage cans,

as programs were passed to greedy paw-hands.

Expectations were high, our violinist well-known,

hushed mews of excitement causing a drone.

Silence descended as curtain was parted.

Tails twirled, ears pointed, little eyes darted.

And out of the darkness a steady whine came,

quicker and quicker, a musical game.

Bravando, crescendo, basso, maltendo!!!

Musical scores like never before.

A candle was lit, and into the light

came a little black kit', his muscles kept tight

as he concentrated, demonstrated, his gifted skill.

Cat hearts were beating, some even felt ill,

some swooned and then fainted as the music grew louder, louder,

grew in itself

'til hundreds of melodies were instantly felt.

Then suddenly silence,

and cats drew their breath as out came a melody

so sweet and so true, that everyone there, little or old,

all type of animal, instantly knew.  

The song carried memory, of streets dark and cold,

of mysterious reverie, of victories bold.

Of warm summer nights, dancing so freely,

of fighting for love, that oldest of melee.

Of laughing with friends, and unexplained ends.

Of dear ones lost, to the long winter's frost.

Of hungriness, lonliness, tenderness, fear,

melodies carried by only a tear.

Cats from all neighborhoods, from every street,

reconciled their differences, became one, complete.

A bond was formed, written in music,

given to air, torn into the night.

Understanding was forged into their blood;

from this day forward, they wouldn't fight.

The land was now theirs, for everyone, all.

From low-landed valleys to mountains so tall.

And as kitten finished his sweet melodie,

folded his case and blew out the light,

cats made anew, silently, surely, with swiftness learned young,

their happiness had, their sadness all wrung,

with proud tails in air, 

went into the night.



copyright Steven Woods, 1997

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