Rain-washed Cat (Poetry)

There he sits apparently delighting
in the freshness of the drizzle
straight and clean
enthusiastic in his clockwork licking
that gives his wetted coat
a slick black sheen.

His busy tongue employs
and spreads the shower
a cat who takes advantage of the rain
for grooming — undermines
the old perception
felines dislike water, in the main.

He picks his way through grass
grown thick with lushness
unhurridly he places new-washed feet
then finds a spot beneath wide dripping branches
and curls his dampness
snoozes, smelling sweet.