Ode to Spot
by Data

Felis catis is your taxonomic nomenclature
An endothermic quadroped, carniverous by nature
Your visual, olfactory, and auditory senses
contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defenses

I find myself intrigued by your subvocal oscillations
A singular development of cat communications
That obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
For a rhythmic stroking of your fur to demonstrate affection

A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents
You would not be so agile, if you lacked its counterbalance
And when not being utilized to aid in locomotion
It often serves to illustrate the state of your emotion

Oh Spot, the complex levels of behavior you display
Connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array
And though you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend
I nonetheless consider you a true, and valued friend

it should perhaps be noted that it's possible the poem went on from here after the episode went into the opening credits and that the entire poem was not shared with the viewers, but only the characters. i doubt this, but it occurs to me as a possibility, and so i thot i'd mention it here.

stuff i didn't write