Ode to my cat's Zen

My female cat is the embodiment of Zen. Her name is Zena (with a Z because of her crooked tail), but we call her Baby Girl. She is a gentle, petite, sweet disposition, Tabby. I see her curled up on her pillow in a spot of sunlight, or sometimes playing enthusiastically with nothing more than her own tail and I yearn for her simplicity of joy. For her, 'Be Here Now' is not a striving for higher consciousness, but her existence. This morning I looked into her beautiful large gold brown eyes and saw serenity.

Baby Girl Knows

Languid, soft, and sweet companion
friend, teacher, feline daughter
Independence, home,
the simple, important things
Baby Girl knows

Soft voice calling me
from profound thought
Diminutive steps,
arched back, beckon touch, love
Baby Girl knows

Moments of great sadness, tears
She offers sincere affection,
gentle kiss, mew
Sooths hurt with doe eyes and silken fur
Baby Girl knows

Spontaneous joy, the hunt, childish play
importance of a soft bed
a simple touch
Her face serene in contentment
Baby Girl knows

Little tiger face peaking through ferns
the mighty huntress in the grass,
plucky in pursuit of flies
Unaware the passing of time,
no concept of beginning, ending
only here, not here
A moment unto itself, delight
Minimalist,
Zen

Petite, brown eyed, feline Buddha
I seek your enlightenment,
your brave, unabashed,
bountiful existence
Teach me

I am as positive that pure joy
is to be curled in a ball
like a pill bug on a pillow,
face cozied up to one’s own fluffy tail
as I am that behind large, soft, brown doe eyes
Baby Girl knows