stray cats of Istanbul | poem

poetry

in Istanbul they have cats

as commonly seen in the street

as cars or people.

-

some of them have big paws

others the type of matted hair

you find in the shower

clogging up a drain.

-

it doesn’t really matter

if you walk up or down

the streets of Istanbul

-

if stone is flat or cobbled

or people fill space

like a nine am elevator.

street cats can always be found.

-

many of them are the young litter

of street cat veterans

who appears more accustomed

to an idol life than their young:

cold flat concrete

shade found beneath eaves

tree branches

chairs and tables

where locals enjoy tea.

-

the wise cat with nose scar

missing chunk of ear

contains little curiosity

yet through narrow eyes

remains vigilant

over their young.

-

young that raise tails

creep toward shadows

squeeze into tight spaces

as they venture forward

towards new territories  

occupied by other cats,

just like them.

-

the young learn from the old, in time

but grow with an understanding

of native kindness.

-

fish and meat and kibble

appear from street level windows

in bowls.

makeshift beds

are made from cardboard

discarded wood

offer relief on too hot days.  

-

the cat eyes of Istanbul

range from ink black curious

to jaundice yellow,

everything in between.

patches of fur

white

brown and

black

feel like autumn.

-

some of these cats look like twins

others appear as lost

as a balloon  

on windy day.

-

there are more cats

than can be counted

in Istanbul.

but it will forever be

the black kitten I saw

pawing at a slab of concrete

that remains as present

as the Azan cries.

-  

black kitten

with milk white whiskers

unformed meow,

rib thin and empty bellied

was the one.

-  

stood over little black cat

luminated by amber lamplight

at a train station

entrance  

that led to a platform

the Orient Express

once took pause

-

I considered if the cats of Istanbul

knew how free they were.