Have pity on my lonely state,
I am an orphan boy!

How sad, an orphan boy!

—Pirate King in “Pirates of Penzance,” Gilbert and Sullivan

•••

He is an orphan boy now,
Maxi cat, and, two days
after Mom’s departure,

I drive him to my house
in his carrier, poor carsick kitty,
and set him gently into

the back bedroom that has
sheltered many a guest—
some of them for longer stays

than others. He strolls into
his new life, which neither of us
can possibly envision,

with a little kittenish mew!
and begins, like Pooh, to
have a little explore,

while outside the door, old
Poki cat sits with narrowed eyes.
She is not the most generous hostess,

but I emerge into her space and tell her,
He needs us, sweetie.
He’s an orphan.

It takes me a few minutes
to realize, So am I.
And does this make Maxi

my brother? He’s certainly family,
and as he turns to look at me,
I sink down onto the floor,

reach out a hand to his big
furry face, and say,
Welcome home, big guy.

So glad you’re here.