Steven Fromholz: New and Selected Poems

Yellow Cat

-33Yellow Cat It’s late December and the New Year’s never coming, Time passes slowly in a two-room walk-up flat. The sun is silent; There’s a cold rain gonna come on. No one to talk to but my lady’s yellow cat. The wind is whipping up the papers in the streets below. I’ve got some books to read but seems they’ve all been read. The clouds are crowded in a misty, drifting sky above. I wish to hell I could remember what I said I guess I could go walking ’Cause a cat’s no good for talking to. He don’t know what I’m saying And the rain is always playing on my mind. Raindrops falling on the flowers in the window box, Plastic roses that I planted yesterday. I did not think they’d die so soon but they’re all withered now; Seems like everything I touch turns out that way. Hollow echo of the raindrops falling on the roof Like the voices of the shadows on the wall. I watch the lightning licking clouds And I hear the thunder roll. Seems like years ago we never loved at all I guess I could go walking ’Cause a cat’s no good for talking to He don’t know what I’m saying And the rain is always playing on my mind. -34Streetlights sifting through the blinds that cover window panes, Blends in softly With the bare light overhead And then together they run swiftly through my memory An eerie image of a cold and empty bed. One crystal wineglass on the table filled with scarlet stain Stands alone and empty where there once were two. The jug is silent on the cupboard by a broken plate. The wine is gone my lady and so my love are you. I guess I could go walking ’Cause a cat’s no good for talking to He don’t know what I’m saying And the rain is always playing on my mind. Copyright © 1967 Cherry Lane Music Songwriter, Steven Fromholz (ASCAP) ...