First, the backstory (which, incidentally, has bupkis to do with the usual fare around here). Our cat came to us as a stray. Despite five years of two--sometimes three--solid meals a day, he still acts like he doesn't know where his next meal's coming from.
A couple weeks ago, Dennis & I could hear the percussion his metal bowl makes as he drives it against the wall while polishing it to a mirror finish. I remarked to Dennis that if either of us had any musical talent, we could write a tune to that beat, maybe even roadhouse blues as if the cat had written it. The idea stuck with me, and, well, here you have it--written with my furry muse purring on my lap, no less...
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Shiny Bowl Blues (by the Deputy Kibble-bringer)
I was strolling through the shady grass
On a sunny August day,
When a lady stopped to scratch my ears
And pretty soon led me astray.
She carried me off to her place:
I thought I was on a roll,
Never believing I'd be staring
Down into a shiny bowl.
Ka-thunk, ka-thunk, ka-thunk,
Goes my bowl against the wall.
I'm always hoping to scrape up more,
Though I know I ate it all.
In this life I could only win
By having nothing left to lose,
Meanwhile, I'll nap and I'll wash and then nap some more...
And sing me the shiny bowl blues.
Oh, I know that I'm a handsome guy:
Can't blame her for taking me in.
Five years on, I'm sleek and well-groomed,
Though maybe now not quite so trim.
I could admire this face all day,
From its ear-tips to kibble-hole,
But it looks so sad peering up at me
From inside a shiny bowl.
Ka-thunk, ka-thunk, ka-thunk,
Goes my bowl against the wall.
I'm always hoping to scrape up more,
Though I know I ate it all.
In this life I could only win
By having nothing left to lose,
Meanwhile, I'll nap and I'll wash and then nap some more...
And sing me the shiny bowl blues.
From my windows I can see
Rabbits frolicking on the grass,
And you know the mice are tastier
On the other side of the glass.
For the taste of Squirrel Al Fresco
To Basement Cat I'd pawn my soul.
But I can only stalk the critter
Who lives in my shiny bowl.
Ka-thunk, ka-thunk, ka-thunk,
Goes my bowl against the wall.
I'm always hoping to scrape up more,
Though I know I ate it all.
In this life I could only win
By having nothing left to lose,
Meanwhile, I'll nap and I'll wash and then nap some more...
And sing me the shiny bowl blues.
