Poem of the Day (for Sophie)

The fat cat on the mat
 may seem to dream
 of nice mice that suffice
 for him, or cream;
but he free, maybe,
 walks in thought
 unbowed, proud, where loud
 roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim,
 or deep in den
 in the East feasted on beasts
 and tender men.
The giant lion with iron
 claw in paw,
 and huge ruthless tooth
 in gory jaw;
the pard dark-starred,
 fleet upon feet,
 that oft soft from aloft
 leaps upon his meat
where woods loom in gloom
 —far now they be,
 fierce and free,
 and tamed is he;
but fat cat on the mat
 kept as a pet

does not forget.

J.R.R. Tolkien