The Herman Imbroglio

There’s a little girl

at school

 

(the bus brings her

and others here

by the dozens"

 

and lets them out)

 

and she somehow

knows

all the faculty’s pets’

names by heart.

Yep, all of them.

‘Wish someone

would have told me this

before I lied.

 

“Herman,” I proclaimed

when she cornered me,

“Herman, the cat.”

 

“How big is Herman?”

 

“Oh, about that big.”

 

“What color?”

 

“Oh, brown and gray and black

  with a white belly?” I lied.

 

Now, not counting

Week-ends and holidays,

three months have gone by.

Each morning, she asks me,

“How’s Herman?”

“Just great,” I say.

”Can you bring pictures?”
 

Things were going fine till she wanted pictures.

Oh how I wish I had never

invented the cat named Herman,

because now I have to produce one.

 

And this little girl is sharp"

she knows pets.

There’s not a Rabbit, Snake,

Ferret, Hamster, Poodle, Chihuahua,

Parrot, Iguana, Horse, Hermit crab,

Emus, Wildebeest, Chicken, Mule,
Lama, Sea Monkey, Pig within miles
that she's does not care deeply about.

 

In other words, no other Herman will do.
She knows and loves Herman
far too much to accept
a substitute.

 

A cat matching Herman’s description
should not be hard to find.

I must befriend him
and then photograph him.

 

You see,
I am making an effort

at becoming a decent person.

And oddly enough,
I am truly looking forward to meeting a cat named Herman.