Did You Miss Me?

Did You Miss Me?

Did you miss me?, said the mouse to the cat.
Sorry I had to dash away like that,
But when duty calls, a mouse can't say no
And must, with haste, to wherever called go.

Oh, were you gone? the cat replied to him.
I had my fur to groom and claws to trim.
So many more important things to do,
The dog and I had not a thought of you.

The dog asked, we have a cat in our home?
I have rabbits to chase and fields to roam.
There is no time to waste in my busy day;
I must be ready when Boy wants to play.

Mom called, have you walked the dog today, Boy?
You know that he is not just a stuffed toy.
Not now, he said, I've a ballgame to catch,
But I'll get to it right after the match.

Is that game today? Dad said from his chair,
I completely forgot, not I don't care,
But I need to be elsewhere, sorry, Sport;
Are you pitching, fielding or playing short?

Each at the center of his own universe,
Where, but briefly, others ever traverse,
We let pass without note, and small effect,
The doings of others in our neglect.