Curling, stretching, squirming, Purring, shedding, nicely nestled for a nap, A cat has settled in my lap. A beast I cannot abide, but Knowing how to win a place Without the need for more than Self-assured entreaties for acceptance — Granted — a cat has settled in my lap. I still don’t like it, but We have a truce, a treaty Based upon respect for claws Kept sheathed, at least for now, Both his and mine. That cat has settled in my lap.