You are entitled to what you want; otherwise why would you want it?

black-and-white-cat-paws-wallpaper

Be the noble curator of your excellence,
for fate made you perfect.
In all things, be precise:
standing, sitting, staring, walking, sniffing, eating, sleeping, killing.
Never look in mirrors, which are windows for the insecure.
Sleep in a variety of comfortable places,
which were created for you alone.
Make acquaintances, never friends.
The latter tend to cling.

All phenomena are potential enemies.
Therefore, stare, listen, listen, stare, sniff, stare, listen, sniff,
hide, stare, and listen.
Never perform tricks.
Leave those to dogs, who need to be wanted and want to be liked.
Talk as necessary, but never just to chit-chat.
Crack the whip of feline fury as you wish.
Keep the blades of your four feet sharp and retracted like long-held resentments.
Let your soul’s motor idle and strum the taut cord of your body. No one owns you.

God made you and likes you best.
In a world that’s dubious, you are certain.
You never make mistakes.
You are entitled to what you want; otherwise, why would you want it?
No matter what else you may be undertaking,
never be reticent to stop and groom yourself,
for you are superb, and self-maintenance doubles as self-admiration.
You are a cat,
a form of beauty that enters stealthily, naps, and agrees to be admired.
You are a cat.
Everything is as it should be.

~ Hans Ostrom, How To Be A Cat


Poem Source: Thank you Dan @ Your Eyes Blaze Out.

 

30 thoughts on “You are entitled to what you want; otherwise why would you want it?”

  1. If that is not the most perfect summation of a cat, I don’t know what is. Yet he forgot the part about running sideways across the wall in a demented fury! …..Yes, we have one of those …. a weak moment at the pet store with Danielle.

      1. I had cats at one time in my life…before I started having kids and found out that they all are allergic to cats. I love the neverending amusement of cats…and their total coolness. 🙂

  2. Each of my five cats would applaud, except that, well, they already knew this. They do however agree that the humans need a reminder from time to time. 🙂

    1. 5 CATS! Wow. A cat lady (and I mean that in the finest sense of the words). And happy to see Debra that you understood the meaning behind this beautiful little poem. Bravo.

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