Mildred and Mike, both in their nineties
Had an affectionate cat, named Duffy,
Who they said was just like a human
Or had been a human in a past life.
Duffy seemed to understand their words
And listened to their woes like a therapist.
One night while Duffy was in the kitchen,
She smelled an awful scent in the bedroom
And knew the scent meant danger and death.
She raced into the bedroom and pounced
On Mildred and Mike and woke them up
And saved them both from horrible deaths.
Smoking in bed Mike had fallen asleep
With a lit cigarette in his outstretched hand.
Drugged on sleeping pills Mildred and Mike
Didn’t wake up as the flames began.
And had not Duffy awakened them,
They both would have died in a raging fire.
Bob Boyd