Household Killer

You have tamed this small beast
who came to us bedraggled
straight from her mother's belly
in the dark corner of our garage.

No hint of the future fierce feline
tumbling with siblings, sleeping
while the others continued to cavort;
she was the most docile - reserved.

First to go, a present to his sister
from our daughter's fiancee,
her fate sacrificed to bind
the families like a dowery.

Returned - on pretense of a visit;
careless owner dumped her, changed:
near feral, teased, boxed, roughhoused
into a fury of angry claws and fangs.

No touching her or lightning bites
claws that left ragged slashes,
and open gashes near veins,
merely for foolish hand near her face.

Your heart broke as had her spirit
both shattered into razor shards.
She was the Cruelty of People incarnate.
Anyone but you would put her down.

You gave her space and sweet talk
proved to her the wolves were gone.
gained her trust by sharing our bed
despite my panther nightmares.

Today I realized no more attacks;
just appreciative purrs, feminine mews,
her head raised for butting foreheads
her cat smiles half-hidden by covers.

Proof came with a snarl and bite
my hand seized but let go quickly
without even breaking the skin,
head laid down in deep remorse.

Watching you both sleeping
your arm as her pillow,
purring in her sleep,
your lioness sweetly cuddled.

Yes, you have tamed
this man-eater
just as you have tamed
each and all of us.

LMC, 24 Feb - 13 Mar 2016