Belling the Cat

Turn around, bright eyes...

Like “Crossing the Rubicon,” this poem arose from a simple saying, “Belling the Cat.” The tale involves a council of mice agreeing that hanging a bell around a cat’s neck will signal it’s approach… yet none will undertake the task. From a nondual perspective, this poem illustrates how both the fear and the one who feels fear vanish the moment they’re truly faced. Hear and/or read this poem below.

Belling the Cat

being caught, lost in thought
in this cat-and-mouse game,
when mind offers fear
I am once again tamed
and escape to the known,
to the comfort of names.

yet one voice is heard,
which is largely unheeded:
“BELL THE CAT,” it intones;
“BELL THE CAT,” is repeated,
as I turn from the thought
feeling lost and defeated.

the voice comes again:
“BELL THE CAT,” it invites...
yet does it not know
the cat scratches and bites?
“BELL THE CAT,” once again…
dare I take up the fight?

and now comes the fear!
“BELL THE CAT,” issues forth
from my own very mind;
as I turn ’round and find
THE CAT looming large,
crouched and ready to charge.

“BELL THE CAT,” in my mind
as I step into the fear
and find peace at the center:
no ‘me’ or ‘cat’ here,
no bell hung to knell,
all is now clear.

the illusory cat,
when kept at a distance,
seemed separate and real
due to resistance.
step into the fear...
see? it has no existence!

• Check out my books “Take Heart, Seeker” and “The Temple of Silence” at this link.

• See more about the origins of the phrase “Belling the Cat” at Wikipedia.