Daylight and Moonlight Cats
I have two cats:
an exclusively indoor
white, long haired
luxurious Siberian.
And an exclusively outdoor
Maine Coon, neighborhood cat.
While my Siberian is pampered
taking long daytime naps
belly up—
my vigilant Main Coon cat
shadows me everywhere.
Right turn where
the enchanting willow tree’s tentacles sway.
Left turn where the third stop sign stands next to the plush orange Lillie’s.
Above the hill where
the quint stained glass
Victorian church stands.
Semi-feral, I once thought he was heinous
but I found that
he is fiercely loyal.
He protects my crops
scouting squirrels
befriending me over catnip
I grew for him.
Purring and rubbing his body
around my legs.
Slow, graceful movements
like bioluminescent moon jellyfish in water.
Gazing through my consciousness
with piercing, understanding eyes
that change from yellowy amber
to moss green.
© Shahrzad Taavoni
Shahrzad Taavoni is a writer, artist, and acupuncturist currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Baltimore. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and dual Master’s degrees in Acupuncture and Herbology. Her hobbies include daydreaming, playing peekaboo with her cat, and writing while on the elliptical. Her work has been featured in California Quarterly, Persian Heritage Magazine,Soul Forte Journal, Closed Eye Open, Soul Poetry, Prose & Art Magazine, andAmethyst Review. She has also served as a reader for Honeycomb Literary Press.
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