Reigning Dogs and Cats

author’s note:

“It must be a peace without victory.”
                  --  Woodrow Wilson


THE TRUCE

Half of
this humble poem
was written, originally,
in the language of the cat,
and half,
in the language of the dog.

So we assigned the translation
to a scholarly feline and canine.

But the cat had to work
at night, and the dog
during daylight--

to avoid conflict.

They both believed
they could not coexist
for the duration
of the assignment.
They said they would
--sooner or later--
be ruled by animal instinct.

And then
civilization would suffer
yet another
tragedy
in our battle for peace.

However, the dog and cat
did agree to be
photographed together
to celebrate completion
of the project.

And to their credit...

you could see restrained sadness
in their smiling eyes--
a bemused acceptance,
an awareness of shared grief
from all those centuries--centuries--
of dog and cat fights.

I can not help but feel hope
when I see such tortured hearts
struggle with all their history.

© 2008, Michael R. Patton
steps of dreams
difficult-listening poetry