Cat Trick (Poetry)

She woke in the cat basket
her nose pressed uncomfortably
against the wicker side
cautiously opening one eye
she looked around the kitchen
no one about and the fire burnt to ash

It was she guessed not long after dawn
and it would be a while
before anyone came downstairs
to begin the business of the day
she stretched slowly and gracefully
arching her back and flexing each leg in turn

She was determined not to panic
there had to be a way to persuade him
to change her back again
it was simply one of his tricks
the boy-wizard showing off
he would soon tire of it and listen to reason

Meanwhile she’d wash her face
but after she’d licked her paws
a couple of times she found she
so-hated the feel and taste of fur in her mouth
it made her cough up a soggy little ball of it
which she quickly spat out feeling nauseous and resentful

A minute later the door opened and
she let out a soft mew of surprise
as she watched herself walk in
alarmed and confused to see her body
controlled by someone else (and her money
was on him ) she protested with a threatening hiss

This was met with an indulgent laugh
and a finger wagging temptingly close to her nose
but she resisted the urge to bite it
aware she’d only be hurting herself
assuming that kidnapped human form still belonged to her
instead she made a dash for the open door

Outside a cold wind blew among the trees
puffing up a light covering of snow
a neighbour’s dog barked fiercely
and spooked her so she ran in blind panic
up the trunk of an apple tree scrabbling to keep hold
the excited dog continued yapping as she tried to climb higher

Then a sound like a gunshot as the branch broke
and sent her plunging down once more
she hit the ground with a juddering thud and lost consciousness

It was snowing very gently when she came round
and Merlin was sitting watching her from a few feet away
he looked convincingly contrite as she scolded him