Life herds its cats
Patiently, clockwise,
Through the expanding time.
We think we can go
Wherever we want in the universe,
But as we walk quickly,
Then stop, then go,
With our tails straight up,
And then crooked,
We find we don't really know
Just what it is we're rubbing ourselves on,
Or scratching our claws on,
Or why we feel so rushed as we do.

But while the trail of crooked tails
Ahead of us is dotted
With the question marks of a thousand more
Just like us--
Unanswered lives
Herded along
To some important party,
Where we'll feel underdressed
Unless we're not
Dressed at all,
But know that where it all leads
Is to some convenient corner
Of the room where we can finally be scooped up
And put outside
With the other kitties.
(And that--if we're lucky.)

-jenn