Thursday, November 24, 2022

Cats as Metaphor

An announcement.

Their flight is delayed for three hours.

At least we have something to do, says Pierre-Louis.

Where are we up to? asks Quiet-tartus.

Line two, says Arthur.

The one about cats? says the knowlesi.

Catacombs, says Pierre-louis.

O desoo, says Quiet-tartus.

What does that mean? asks the knowlesi. 

Where the cats are, says Quiet-tartus. At least I suppose so.

Your pronunciation is inaccurate, says Pierre-Louis. Properly speaking, it is 'au dessus', and yes, it would be where the cats are, except for one crucial factor.

Which is? asks the knowlesi.

There are no cats, says Pierre-Louis.

Who says? asks Quiet-tartus.

In the poem, says Pierre-Louis. 

Then it wasn't as good as we thought, says the knowlesi.

No, says Quiet-tartus. We thought the cats were a metaphor.

Perhaps the catacombs are an even better metaphor, suggests Pierre-Louis.

What for? asks Arthur.

What's underneath, says Pierre-Louis.

That's pretty ordinary, says Arthur. I like the cat one.

Don't you start, says Pierre-Louis.

Is anyone writing this down? asks the knowlesi.

No paper, says Pierre-Louis. How about I get some from the men's room?

Toilet paper? says Quiet-tartus. That's unpoetic.

How about buying some snacks? says Arthur. Snacks with paper wrappers.

A great idea. Pierre-Louis goes off.

Victor appears in the departure lounge. He sits down next to Arthur.

Here's your poem, says Victor. I shouldn't have kept it.

I know says Arthur. It's incriminating.

Exactly, says Victor. It seems you and I think alike.

But I think alike faster, says Arthur.

Ha ha, laughs Victor.

Pierre-Louis returns with the snacks, wrapped in a paper napkin.

Two Kit-Kats,

He's the only one who thinks it is funny.


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