Poem by the Norwegian poet Harald Sverdrup (1923–92)

Stroke the cat

If you’re feeling down,

then fix your hair.

If you’re still feeling down

then stroke the cat.

I’m not saying it’s cowardly

to take your own life.

To live it takes great courage

and a cat’s wildness,

think of being trapped

in a sack with stones

and submerged in water

(I have seen a cat

with life number ten intact

rub itself up against

its nine-time killer).