ODE TO SPOT by Commander Data - United Federation of Planets
Felix Catus, is your taxonomic nomenclature.
an endothermic quadruped carnivorous by nature?
Your visual, olfactory and auditory senses
contribute to your hunting skills, and natural defences.
I find myself intrigued by your sub-vocal oscillations,
a singular development of cat communications
that obviates your basic hedonistic predilection
for a rhythmic stroking of your fur, to demonstrate affection.
A tail is quite essential for your acrobatic talents;
you would not be so agile if you lacked its counterbalance.
And when not being utilised to aide in locomotion,
it often services to illustrate the state of your emotion.
O Spot, the complex levels of behaviour you display
connote a fairly well-developed cognitive array.
And although you are not sentient, Spot, and do not comprehend
I nonetheless consider you a true and valued friend.
I would disagree with Data. Spot IS sentient, and DOES comprehend. Much more than he realises.
ReplyDeleteI agree on the true friend front though.
I am sure Data did not realise the ability of cats to know so much. I guess an android has less understanding of animals than we do.
DeleteStill enjoyed the poem though.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteSentience, philosophically, is defined as the 'ability to suffer', which cats almost certainly can do. Comprehension is the ability to absorb and resolve complex information, which cats almost certainly would not lower themselves to!
Being a Trekker since ever it began, I commend you for bringing this to us Mimsie - the episode in which this appeared was a solo performance by Brent Spiner in his role as Data as he worked through some conundrums as an artificial intelligence attempting to deepen his 'interface' with his shipmates... puuurrrrrrrrrrrr.... YAM xx
I found it most enjoyable and we too used to watch Star Trek but after about the third repeat found it had lost its charm.
Delete... I love,love, love this......
ReplyDeleteCats are wonderful creatures.
I've seen a video on FB of a cat using Aslan signing to communicate to his deaf human.. xxxxxxx
Thanks for this Mimsie... ..... Barb xxxx
Glad you enjoyed it Barb. I too think cats are wonderful creatures and much smsrter than many give them credit for.. xxx
DeleteThat does sound just like what Data would say. A nice tribute to cats everywhere.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly put it very well in his own special way. He understood cats so well.
DeleteHi Mimsie, this is an unrelated comment, I am sorry I tried to comment about a very old post but was unable to. This relates to your N is for Numbat post...I am wondering if you would email me on vanessa1@iinet.net.au I would love to write to you and ask about the numbat booklet you have hung on to for many years. Cheers Vanessa Lombardo
ReplyDeleteLove this and Mr. Data Hug B
ReplyDeleteIt is great isn't it and Data such a lovable android too.
Delete