He looked at the food on his plate:
Not much there to tempt the palate;
Was this the best she could do?

Once there was a choice: fresh meat or fish;
Always something to tempt and tantalize.
He turned his head away, the food untouched;
She left the room.

From the kitchen, the clatter of pans;
A new aroma filled the air.
She returned and placed a dish before him.
His eyes lit up; his appetite returned.

She watched him eat; his frail frame needed nourishment;
He would not know that she had gone without
But a pet is a pet for life;
An old cat must be cared for.

©Arthur Loosley

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