Kathmandu Kitty

The Calico Cat from Katmandu
Spoke to me in his native Urdu
Meowing and Mewling
He Voiced his sage Ruling
that 'Existence Expresses the Balance of Two'

Perched regally atop the green marble Ghat
upon noble Haunches, this wise Tabby Sat
his Paw gently Poised on the Rise of the Stair
He Focused his Breathing, Inhaled to Prepare
with slow Exhalation his Nostrils Flared flat

Cat's-eye closed, a Slit of Concentration
my full Attention, the Requisite to Summation
from Tongue-lashing Kali to Fate-caching Karma
from ecstatical Kama to dogmatical Dharma
the enigmatic Destruction exquisite to Creation

Sowing the Seeds of the Upanishads
upon the common Ruck of the Esplanade
his white Paw Dips in the Ganges' murky Fire
to Water and Fertilize, to Anoint and Inspire
an internal Fervor behind cool Facades

A pink Tongue Grooming private Persian Parts,
Entrapped his Eyes of Peridot
Narration Ceased, One Could Hear the River Lapping
the deafening Void of the Sound of one Hand Clapping
in the dark and hideous Face of the Lordly Juggernaut

From deep in his Gullet, there Grew a low Growling
that Rumbled and Spiraled and Leaped into Howling
Neck Tendons taut, Grin Exposed lightstruck Teeth
and the awful Dark of his Throat underneath
as He Blasted the blue-blooded Brahmins' low Scowling

'I have Wandered supreme through the high Hindu Halls
Ignoring the Maunderings of ill-bred Catcalls
my Name is Maya, though I Am no Illusion
I Summon the Truth from the Mouth of Delusion
from which the Kitten of Pedigree Crawls

'Arogant Abyssinians in opulent Array
Draped in silken scarlet on sumptuous Display
pampered and prissy, the Persian Grows fat
with only prosaic Offerings to the Kingdom of Cat
which in slothful Behavior, They Seek to Betray

'Consider the Burmese, a sleek brown Import
Sharpening his Claws on your new Davenport
on Paper his Line Traces back to Antiquity
though Manifests in Reality as a Permit for Iniquity
Who Allows these capricious Ones to Cavort?

'The Mongrel, on the other Hand, has no catechismal Ties
his Markings and Proclivities Are always a Suprise
You Can Trust this noble Creature
for He Seeks the wisest Teacher
and his Search for Truth and Wisdom Is apparent in his Eyes

'I may Be just a Cat to You
but All that I have said Is True
so Beware the papered Prostitute
Accept, instead, a Substitute
and Bid the pedigreed Cat, Adieu'

He paused in his Wanderings, Holding his Tongue
Reviewing eight Lives He had Squandered when young
His frequent Recyclings Left him far from Perfection
so Life number nine begged exemplary Direction
further Complaints Remained unsung