Mi Gato, Milton

By Mushroom Montoya

 

Driving and bouncing,

Front wheels bumping

Up and down over a grumpy

Pair of railroad tracks,

 

A scream jolts my hands,

Compressing the steering wheel,

Turning it to the right,

Pushing my foot on the brake.

 

I slow the van to a stop.

My heart is racing

And chasing the screamer

Hidden under the hood.

 

I wish I could

See it

Before I lift

The heavy steel engine cover.

 

I’m afraid I’ll discover

Cat gut splatter

All over

The engine.

 

My fingers squeeze the latch.

My eyes turn not wanting to catch

The bloody gore of a shredded cat

As I lift the van’s engine hood.

 

What is this?

A wide yellow eyed,

Terrified,

White cat

 

Lying on

The radiator cover

With its left and right front claws

Still gripping on.

 

Dare I extend my hand

And lift this cat out?

Will it scream and shout

And bite me?

 

I slide one hand under its belly,

The other slowly over its back.

My voice slow and gentle

“Come on cat,

I won’t hurt you.”

 

As I lift his resistant body up

His left paw cautiously

Comes unhinged

And then his right.

 

I hold him close to my heart

Letting its beats

Tell him

I mean no harm.

 

His muscles relax,

Going limp

As I put him into the passenger seat

Before closing the engine’s lid.

 

“Thank you,” he says

When I climb into the van.

“You saved my life!

 

I now lay claim

On you and yours

For as long as I love

And live.”

Click Here To Listen