Perfection

author’s note:

Dedicated to the memory of Freddie the cat--who taught me so much.


PERFECTION

I hoped
by following a housecat
I would eventually arrive at
the center of my own
perfection.

Consider those paws--
so sensitive yet so tough--
so connected
to the spinal column:

it’s a finer intelligence.

But though I learned from my cat
its innate feline wisdom remained
beautifully foreign to me.

The cat,
understanding my plight
looked up into my eyes
as if to say:
“What I have
  you have--
  see
  feel
  realize
  myself in yourself.”

I do try to
but only in rare unexpected moments
do my feet fall into place--
into the fine beam balance
of a cat walk.

Such blessed accidents
always stir me--pain me--
to want more--more!

but without leaving a clue
as to how I might return.

In my walk more typical
I muddle through the mud--
I bumble and stumble
with staggering feet.

But though I spin chaotic
I keep this gyro going--
my entangled legs create
their own crazy tango:

the drunken clown
I saw in the circus
said we may wobble
yet still display elegance.

The clown asked me,
“What is perfection?”

© 2015, Michael R. Patton
dream steps: the blog