Requiem for a tomcat by Wim de Vries

Requiem for a tomcat

Wim de Vries - 1923-1994
photo Internet

I still think often of the neighbours' cat.

They called him Lazarus because

he was constantly being stoned by

fanatic pigeon fanciers.

It was the best sort of tomcat,

going out at night and

humping what he could hump, coming

home in the morning with torn ears

he then slept the whole day and went

out again in the evening.

A great cat, still absolutely natural. A

real bloke you might say.

He had already turned twenty when he died.

The vet gave him a jab because

he soiled himself.

I still remember that I cried when he

was buried in the garden.

That day I wrote, young as I

was, the first epitaph in

my life.

A simple little plank whereupon was written

Here lies Lazarus, the terror of

pigeon flyer and sparrow

May he rest in peace.

Original title: Requiem voor een kater - From the collection: Zwaarbewolkt, enkele opklaringen - 1980 - Rotterdamse Kunststichting