Homecoming

As I climb the stairs,
mewing from my door
urges me: hurry!
In the shadows of my entry hall,
the zebra-striped tiger looks up:
Where have you been all night?

The cat of the house blocks my toes,
meows long and loud.
Too long! Gone too long.

Paws rebound off the counter,
vault onto my backpack where
the cat of the house struts on me.
Claws massage my shoulder as
his green eyes in the mirror peek
from behind my golden locks.

From behind the chair,
zebra-striped-tiger toes strike.

The cat of the house:
Tag! You're it.