Children of Bast

Tiger guarded my basinet and loyalty gave,

He was the measure of what friendship should mean,

Upright primates only tormentors and knaves,

Their generosity never wholesome or clean,

When those who sired me gave charge of my friend,

To those not worthy of that gift,

They claimed that he’d fled my heart did rend,

And my world view started to drift,

An orange tabby, my second ally,

Whom I befriended when no human he’d trust,

Every night he rested at my side,

Till a decade and a half when I lay him in the dust,

Even Felidae of passing loves,

Quickly warmed when I was near,

They inspired the sentiment of the dove,

When my own species inspired fear,

From birth, they said my deity had died,

And that he would rise again,

Yet that man’s grace ever denied,

Whilst comfort came only from these friends,

They were the only children I ever knew,

The only mentors I could trust,

As those capable of speech spoke of loyalty true,

Only Bastet had shown me what was just,

So, to the matron of the gods of old,

I pledge life and love to Her,

For the only innocence that I know,

Hath whiskers, tail and fur.