My Cats by Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski, who was born today in 1920, had a reputation as a crotchety old man but this poem reveals a softer, kitty-loving side of him. 

I hope you enjoy his description of cats as much as I did:

My Cats

I know. I know.
they are limited, have different
needs and
concerns.

but I watch and learn from them.
I like the little they know,
which is so
much.

they complain but never
worry,
they walk with a surprising dignity.
they sleep with a direct simplicity that
humans just can’t
understand.

their eyes are more
beautiful than our eyes.
and they can sleep 20 hours
a day
without
hesitation or
remorse.

when I am feeling
low
all I have to do is
watch my cats
and my
courage
returns.

I study these
creatures.

they are my
teachers.