Hello sunilmathur,

More than anything else, if there is one point I could make is this:
pets are friends, whether we've purchased them, raised them
or found them. Don't use friend or friendship in any variation.
We understand the feeling. This cat shows up at the N's home
begs for food, is gifted and the N feels love in return: got it.

Don't mention tenderness or love (unless it's something like
he--the kitten I mean--loves raw tuna or whatever). In fact,
I'd omit the word love altogether. Avoid any usage of the words
that describe emotion directly, keep out of sentimentalism. 
I know that's modern (or is it postmodern) critique, but considering
only this poem, less is more when the subject is emotion.

Detail more: what does that imploring look like? Sound like?
Yes, we all know what a hungry kitten means, and I find it
interesting that a kitten is not adopted by the N; and I worry
as well. However, this poem doesn't traverse into darker
territory that will come when the kitten ages into young adult.
The strange relationship built between N and kitten.

In fact, what does the N feed the kitten? Has the N taken
to purchasing cat food for it? Or are scraps offered?
All it adds to the relationship of the creatures. 
Please consider that as well.

Stripped down to its core is how I see the poem, but not the poem
itself, for only you can create that artwork. Good luck.


The call: once again, 
I open the door, there 
he stands, imploring;
I fetch food from the kitchen,
he runs to his favorite place on the lawn.
Having eaten with relish, he asks for more, insistent 
‘meow’. The kitten, 
though not a regular pet,
is a frequent visitor. At night, 
when I come home,
it is a delight to be greeted 
in his familiar tone. Sometimes
he brings a companion or two:
a fat cat, or a (another?) kitten;
and before long
they favor me 
in return for a few crumbs.


Namaste,
~Tim


P.S.: In hindsight, because of the title, try and remove any usage of kitten at all.
Use only him or he depending on. Consider even avoiding it so that there is 
relationship viewed between two creatures using only gender-based
pronouns like a relationship between two humans might be described.
Okay, I've typed off your eyes enough. Namaste.

Thanks peach. The suggested version of the poem nicely brings in the concept of helping animals in pain or need.

Thanks nas for the revision.

Thanks for your comment. The animal is stray though not injured.

‘Meow,’ ‘Meow,’ calls the kitten;
and as I open the door,
there he stands, looking up at me,
imploring for food;
While I fetch it from the kitchen,
he runs to his favorite place on the lawn.
There, having eaten the food with relish,
he looks up asking for more, voicing his request
with an insistent ‘meow’.
The kitten, though not a regular pet,
is a real friend, and a frequent visitor.
Even at night, when I come back home,
it is a delight to be greeted 
by him in his familiar tone.
Sometimes he brings a companion or two:
a fat cat, or a kitten;
and before long
they favor me with their friendship,
giving heaps of joy and fun
in return for a few crumbs.