House Cat, Alley Cat

My friend Jeffrey admits he is a house cat.
No shame in it. It’s a natural consequence
of his upbringing. I’m an alley cat.
I was brought up differently.

When a house cat purchases
something too big for his car,
he dials his alley cat friend
who owns a pickup.

Alley cats know
how to change motor oil,
install a hot water heater,
cut firewood with a chainsaw,
and they have a key that will open
every padlock.

It looks a lot like
a pair of bolt cutters.

House cats know
how to avoid fistfights.
Alley cats know
how to win them.

House cats know
the best places to eat,
the best shows to see,
the best books to read, and
they can solve any problem
with a phone call.

House cats
give alley cats
access to refinement.

Alley cats
throw open the door
to let house cats see
a different kind
of hidden world.

Roy H. Williams