Alyssandra
         waits
with the kitten
        for the
           imminent manifestation
        of a
           cat-eating monster
from the swirl of
        sun-motes
           on the parquet floor...
She
     waits, feeling
            the same joy
of the hunt
  and especially the joy
       of sun on fur, and skin,
          paws,
and the monster is frightened
   and refuses
           to manifest
and the motes remain
         a peaceable
             swirl
    of golden
             warmth
      all morning
    So Alyssandra's well-
               warmed toes
are the next foe
     of the moment
         So the kitten,
     knowing it is outsized
plays it coy,
     watching without
               seeming
     waiting
               with the girl
for the right moment
    and footsteps on the stones
             freeze
                   girl and hunter
           but not motes
     and it becomes true
           manifests
    the Queen
       has failed
          her
         last
           battle
and Alyssandra
        the Princess
furless, clawless
    and too young
must take
          control
       and be
 a new
         Queen
         above all
       and as she realizes,

The Kitten Attacks.

--SSM 5/12/02