<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I love this piece. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It’s a real gut grabber . <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">There is also a trace of humor in it. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">But the story is one of bonding based on
mutual needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Time is transcended<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">and we could say love is about to happen, but
in fact, it already has. </font></span></u></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"> <o:p></o:p></font></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">THE <st1:place w:st="on">CHOSEN</st1:place><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Knowing
I need her, she will <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">come
to take me home,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Away
from this place of steel and stress.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">This is from the point of view of the cat
who needs to have a human housemate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">The cat already considers that is her
home, eventhough<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">it has not yet
happened. </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">This is a true feline poit of
view. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Others
of my kind here<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Curl
up tightly with eyes closed.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Some
hiss and extend sharp claws,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Fear
hiding their true natures.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"> </font><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3">Anyone who has toured the animal shelter
in search of a feline<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">companion knows
what is being described here.</font><font size="3"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></u></b></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">This is a powerful description. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It also points out that, like humans, cats
are individuals with different ways of coping with life.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Feline
angels from her past<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">I’m thinking this is about the
writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">I suspect she has had cats</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">in her past, and is craving another one. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Whisper
of her preparations<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">As the human companion<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">is preparing for the adoption, she is urged
along by the voices of cats that used to live with her. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">For
my rescue and homecoming.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">The writer sees her actions as a rescue,
and the cat in the poem also sees it that way. Of course, the cat sees it as a
fait accompli<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">and the way it is
suppposed</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">to be. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It should be taken for granted, and she
does take it for granted.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Catnip
mice and jugs of litter<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Fill
a corner of a room<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Just
as I will fill a space<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Carved
into her heart by recent loss.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Beautiful, powerful 4 lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">The human has a hole in her heart and the her
new companion will fill it.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">She
knows cats choose their humans<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">And
that I await her arrival.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">The cat has met her human via senses that
they have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">Perhaps this is true of the
human as well.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">The human knows the way
things are. It might appear that s she will choose her cat, but it is the cat
that has already chosen her. I guess they are both the chosen</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">ones.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">My
head resting against my cage,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I
will see her when she comes,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">And
she will know me by<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The
loving, rumbling purrs<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Welling
up from my soul’s depths.
By Sally Rosenthal<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2204787774msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">My congradulations go out to the human who
has been chosen. I don’t know whther it has<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font size="3">happened</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">externally, but as the
cat knows, it is a fait accompli.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>