For example, sleep. Although they sleep in just a few different places during the day, they sleep in a thousand different configurations like little shape-shifting sculptures, causing one of us to call to the other to say "Look at this one!"
And then there is nighttime. During these past couple of weeks they have been sleeping THROUGH THE NIGHT with us. Very few nocturnal rampages. Janey perched on Mark's hip as he sleeps on his side, Mallory tucked up next to my ear purring. Easy on her pillow by the window. Contentedness incarnate.
During this period of relative free time I thought to myself "I should read a book" or "write the blog." But every time watching the cats seemed a better option. I have never really been a "cat" person (always had a much stronger attachment to our family dogs) and to be honest I don't much care for cats in general but these semi-feral creatures living among us bring, as their cat food is called, "A Taste of the Wild" into our domestic life. They bring art into our home from painting (see Mark's picture "Rembrandt Cats" on my facebook cover page), to dance (arched backs, tails raised swiveling around each other), to living, breathing sculptures asleep on our laps.
And they bring poetry, as Christopher Smart so completely saw in considering his cat, Jeoffry:
For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily
serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships
in his way. For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round with
elegant quickness. For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of
God upon his prayer. For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins to
consider himself. For this he performs in ten degrees.
For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended.
For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be interrupted
upon the beat.
For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
For having considered God and himself he will consider his
neighbor.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
For when his day's work is done his business more properly
begins.
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin
and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about
the life. For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun
loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in
goodness he suppresses. For he will not do destruction if he is well-fed, neither will he
spit without provocation. For he purrs in thankfulness when God tells him he's
a good Cat.
For he is an instrument for the children to learn
benevolence upon.
For every house is incomplete without him, and a blessing is
lacking in the spirit.
For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the
departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt. For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped.
For the dexterity of his defense is an instance of the love of God
to him exceedingly. For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion.
For he is of the Lord's poor, and so indeed is he called by
benevolence perpetually--Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat.
For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is better.
For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain it in
complete cat.
For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what it
wants in music. For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can sit up with gravity, which is patience upon
approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick, which is patience upon proof
positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection.
For the latter refuses the charge.
For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business.
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.
For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services.
For he killed the Icneumon rat, very pernicious by land.
For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention.
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire.
For the electrical fire is the spiritual substance which God sends
from heaven to sustain the bodies both of man and beast. For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, though he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any
other quadruped. For he can tread to all the measures upon the music. For he can swim for life. For he can creep. | |
I also thank the Lord for our cats, and I repeat:
"For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion."
2 comments:
I remember Christopher Smart! And that song. Thank you for linking it to your live kitties. Lovely insight.
I would love to hear "Rejoice in the Lamb" again if you ever see that it is being done somewhere in Portland!
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