Cat hooligans courageous and wild
wander the wooded wilderness;
stealthful cats, sharp of eye and claw,
glinting fang and glowing gaze,
shadow-stalk beneath the pine-veiled moon.

Cat Creatures whispering their wind-talk
(that sounds like a cedar bough stirring aloft,
or a snake threading the pine-needled loam)
laugh soundlessly, smile mirthlessly,
eyes dancing, glimmering, winding yet tighter
Time’s ruthless machine.

Owl’s kite crosses the creeping canopy —
cats purr and bend back their heads
deepening folds of luxurious fur collars,
exposing more and more their shimmering teeth,
tongues dripping, lofting awareness to briefly share
the thrill their hunter sister feels above.

Onward padding, stepping silent, empty footfalls,
surveilling forest fringes and bending branches,
Hunter Cats who fearless tread the unseen ways.
Watch out so soft and succulent mousens —
they come and none can stop ’em!

-Kevin Trammel

_________________________

*10/29/2012: Hunter’s Moon (Farmer’s Almanac)
Full Hunter’s Moon or Full Harvest Moon – October This full Moon is often referred to as the Full Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon, or Sanguine Moon. Many moons ago, Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons. The leaves are falling from trees, the deer are fattened, and it’s time to begin storing up meat for the long winter ahead. Because the fields were traditionally reaped in late September or early October, hunters could easily see fox and other animals that come out to glean from the fallen grains. Probably because of the threat of winter looming close, the Hunter’s Moon is generally accorded with special honor, historically serving as an important feast day in both Western Europe and among many Native American tribes.