"The Stuffed Cat"
by Jack Blanchard

Dana, our neighbor, brought home a stuffed cat.

Well, not exactly a stuffed cat,

you know, a furry toy cat.

Her real cat, who has been living there,

must have been lonesome all along

and never said anything.

The live cat has initiated a serious relationship

with the stuffed one.

The real cat spends a lot of time

cleaning the stuffed one with its tongue,

a social thing with cats

that never really caught on with people.

The stuffed cat's fake fur is getting all worn off

around the ears,

and other places.

This may be the first cat in history

to cough up a polyester fur ball.
Copyright © August 30, 2004, Jack Blanchard. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.