A cat writes…

I have just received a poem from charliec@myairingcupboard.wales; you should know that this is the email address of Runwayskiln’s Charlie Cat.
It’s been a while since his last, to say the least; but I trust you’ll agree that the wait was worth it –

RUNWAYSKILN REFURBISHMENTS
21st February 2022

Charlie the Runwayskiln cat here:
The one who writes poems, y’know.
I’ve not put paw to paper for ages,
But please don’t think me a lazy old so-and-so.

Believe me, we’ve been really busy,
Claire and Charlie the ace chef and me
In our café just off the Wales Coast Path
With its wonderful view out to sea.

While we are closed for winter,
Don’t imagine that we hibernate:
The short days, they go flying past
At a really quite startling rate.

What with planning the next great season,
Ordering drinks from fruit juice to gin;
And here is this year’s main reason –
We’ve got the builders in.

I don’t know what it is with you humans:
You make such a blooming fuss.
All that faffing around with scaffolding
Which we cats don’t need, not us!

If you want me up by the chimneys,
You just have to say the word:
I’ll climb up in a jiffy, dead easy,
Without those poles and planks which I think are absurd.

But I suppose that I can’t carry mortar,
Or lead flashing, or heavy bricks;
And while I’m good at the kill, I’m a dunce with a trowel –
And the idea of sticking it up there for weeks…

So I’ll keep on with my habits, my usual beat:
Patrolling for rodents by night,
Each day in the airing cupboard, checking the heat –
And yowling at everyone, ‘SHUT THAT DOOR TIGHT!’

Soon, let us hope, those tea addict builders
Will get finished, be snagged, and depart;
Then I, and the rest of the Runwayskiln team
Can all focus our minds on the Eighteenth of March!