Mama Cat

While walking down the hall
of a greeting card company
I passed a crateful of kitties
being carted away for their close-up.
There were eight in all,
plus their gray mommy
who was wrenching her head
in every which-way direction
making sure her youngins were safe
from harm —
from the humans
ooing, awing, and loving
all over her offspring.
And of course they were, safe.
(The admirers were women who make
birthday cards for a living, after all.)
But mama just kept looking over her shoulder,
her eyes wide, alert, watching.

Because, you know,
a mother always worries.