The cat who fell three decks and lives in pain
reminds the Padre of his soul's descent.
Dissenting through his desiccated brain
one catty thought persists: "I am ament;
can cat's behaviour rightly represent
my own doomed search for Saviour in red wine?"
He notes that both seek strength for weakened spine
in potables: fresh catnip and good hocks.
"Those little snakes will render us supine;
I'd better have the boatswain change the locks."