Remembering Mr. Greenjeans

Mr. Greenjeans
Was the name
Of my pet cat
In my past life:
A big, black,
Furry bully,
Who loved to
Have his ass
Scratched.

In his past life
He was Nero.

Old habits die hard.

“Peel me a grape.”,
He would purr
In my ear,
Breath smelling of
Martyred mice.

Emperor of one
Square block.
Still daydreaming
Of quail’s tongues
In aspic,
Red as a city
In Flames.