the cat and the bow

the cat has a bow around its neck
no one knows why
the cat never keeps a collar on
but the bow, it likes
we put it on the cat at christmas
the scratches and blood hardly worth the lark
but now we can't get it off
hissing and teeth and claws
guard the bow
and when you've given it up
the cat prances and preens and poses
in its victory
in its joy
in its beauty
the flick of the tail says
the bow must stay

Thanx to JPJ for the opening line/inspiration for today's poetry.