An original poem by Ann Gauger
Gravity Cat
Two green eyes, quite sweet, Lithe black body, white feet. This cat’s a curious case. She curls on her seat (we’re in null-g space) As if not a feat Of peculiar grace. She’s clawless, you see, But with great gravity She retains her place In space. Sometimes she floats when, forgetting, she purrs. It’s her flailing and wailing that causes a stir, No doubt you’ll concur, That when she floats We lose, for sure, Our gravity. Soon we too flail, Drifting about, Bouncing off walls in hilarity. The old Captain shouts, “Who has had the temerity To bring a cat to space?” “But sir she’s a ghost, We didn’t bring her aboard, Can’t touch her, sir.” The seamen assure. “Ah”, says the captain, “she’s the Gravity Cat! Don’t laugh at that cat. Or they’ll have to record our fatality! The old spacers say Many crews that saw her never are seen again. Back to stations, you fools! Calamity is upon us, men! Ore is ahead, our prosperity, Provided we keep our heads, We must not laugh at that cat, I say, Or we’ll wake up in eternity!” That’s a solemn thought, Good enough, all right, to restore our equanimity. And the gravity Cat, just like that, disappears into ‘cat’astrophe.