The Cat Ate Rice

 

The cat came in this morning,
And it was starving.
I poured out some semi-skimmed milk
On a plate
And stood back to watch,
But the cat kept staring at the fridge.
Eventually, it ate
Some rice off another plate
That was perched on some books
On the arm of the couch.
There was nothing in the fridge.
It wasn’t my fault,
But I couldn’t explain –
I hadn’t been given enough work
During the week.
I couldn’t afford the cat meat.
I couldn’t afford much more
Than bread for myself.
Two days’ work is the best that
The agency could do,
So it wasn’t my fault you see:
I’d have worked more days
If they’d given them to me.