Trojan Cats

The cats of Troy
disdained doggish devotion
to the hands that fed them,
judged with dispassion
Trojans and Achaeans alike.

Admired Achilles's arrogance,
his armored mastery of war,
the ruthless sprinter's grace
with which he chased doomed Hector
thrice round their walls.

Heeded Cassandra's prophecies,
left before that hollow horse arrived,
sped to the ships, the wine-dark sea,
the surety of welcome
from the sailors.