Chosen for POPSUGAR's reading challenge: "a book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift". The Great Cat was tucked in next to an excellent bottle of champagne from my bff this past Christmas.

I'm a lifelong fan of cats, though as an adult I have never been able to have one (curse you, apartment rules and regulations!) Poetry, on the other hand, has always been an uphill struggle for appreciation. So most of the stars are for the subject. I really liked the way Fragos curated this collection, going from the chapters on "Adoration" and "Beauty" to "The Superior Cat", "The Scorned Cat", "The Old Cat" and finally, "Mourning the Cat", which was of course The Worst™ because who wants to contemplate that?

Probably my favorite piece is from the "Mystery" section, by John L'Heureux, entitled "The Thing About Cats":

Cats hang out with witches quite a lot;
that's not it.

The thing about cats is
they're always looking at you.
Especially when you're asleep.

Some cats pretend they're not looking
until you're not looking.
They are not to be trusted.

Some cats scowl because they're wearing
imitation fur. They feel inferior.

Some other cats look at you straight on
so that you can't drink you drink
or make love
      but keep thinking
that cat's looking at me straight on.

But all cats do the same:
they look at you
        and you look out
and in.

A cat is not a conscience; I'm not
saying that.

What I'm saying is
        why are they looking?