Ollie is our Maine coon cat
at sixteen pounds he was no kitten
the day we brought him home
from the Humane Society

I still laugh recalling how
out of the blue my wife said
sweetie just get in the car
and don't ask any questions

She drove and we were shortly
parked before the animal shelter
we had two dogs already so
I had some clue

I poked around
fancied a smallish siamese
but Carroll had I think
already been there
made her choice

In her usual calm and un-
assuming way she motioned me
to where this large and very orange
cat was riding quite contented
on the shoulder of a gal
who volunteered there

My first thought was of our dogs
how would they handle this intruder
Carroll was quick to reassure me
Ollie was experienced
had lived with dogs

And sure enough
without the slightest fuss
or hesitation he informed our poodles
(big ones, not the toys)
so long as they behaved themselves
their noses would be spared

Not long after that I caught
our Lucca licking Ollie's neck
and Ollie tolerating it even
if only for a moment

Now seven or eight years have passed
the dogs are showing signs of age
and Ollie too
it's hard to think
of life without them

Ollie cat still loves to ride
on my shouders and to knead
Carroll's sweater swishing
his luxurious white-tipped tail

I've heard that folks live longer
when they share their homes with dogs and cats
I know all three of ours
have done a lot
to humanize me

With just my wife and I
here at the house our canine
feline friends
have helped to keep us sane
through this long year
of social distancing

But that is saying nothing of
the thousand and one playful momentsthe laughter, the surprises
all the loving gestures
soulful looks
with which these fellow travellers
continue to enrich our lives

I
I grew up with dogs
always loved them easily
but Ollie is the first feline
to purr his way
into my heart.
The only real mistake I made
was teaching him to talk
now he loudly lets me in
on his every mood and need
but when he's lying curled
up sleeping on the couch
there's nothing in the world
that breathes more deeply
of domestic peace

It's written if the kingdom
were in heaven birds would
get there first
Ollie's kingdom is the couch
his heaven is rich with all the
birds he catches in his dreams
sleep well Ollie cat