Fellow creatures

Finally overcoming their ancient fear,

driven now to press their noses

against our windows, clawing the glass,

singed whiskers quivering in the heat,

forced to beg for food and shelter,

having to look us straight in the eye,

while flames wall up the house,

panes break and fall from their frames,

a shower of sparks on the parquet floor

and they all pitch through the windows

in a heap of sacrificial fur.