The Intelligence Chief’s Cat

It was your eyes convinced me.
Frightened but flashing defiance
You stood your ground
Beside your dead Commie master
And your meal of leftovers.
So I spared your life
That day we raided the slums.

You didn’t disappoint me
Though gutting a dead rat’s
A bit much. My men too
Get so hot on their first blood.
But you’ll learn fast: even now
You sit in your corner
Licking your paws clean.
Who can pin you with that
Sly grin and wink of innocence?

(“Intelligence Chief’s Cat,” a new stanza)

Don’t worry about the missus
She has deployed the servants
To mop up the evidence and
With the officers’ wives
Has left to make a killing
At the mahjong tables.

Ssssh. I’m off to the mistress.
So…here’s your milk.
But remember, next time
Spare us the stink.