Saturday, April 13, 2019

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "Three Black Cats" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.

Poems so far:
Girl in a Yellow Dress after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani
When the Stars Come to Town after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh
On a Golden Day in May after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses
Beach Time after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt
The Weight of Happiness after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera
By the Sea "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis
Sister Song after an untitled piece by Henry Darger
Two Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis
Girl in Hat after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis
Backstage after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. 
"So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila
"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh

Today's piece is another one by Maud Lewis called "Three Black Cats."

Three Black Cats
    after “Three Black Cats” by Maud Lewis

Three black cats
with October eyes –
they watch
they hunt
they hypnotize.

I see three cats.
They see me.
Which of us
will be first to flee?

Surprise!

Three black cats
with October eyes –
they rub
they purr
they harmonize.

These three cats
are really angels
in disguise.
-->

- Irene Latham




Be sure and visit Doraine at Dori Reads for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!



7 comments:

  1. Oh, this is purrrrrfect. hypnotize, harmonize.....mmmmmmmm

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOVE!! Love the surprise, and it's so evocative . . .

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the repetition of "they watch/they hunt/they hypnotize" followed by "they rub, they purr, they harmonize." Lovely painting and terrific poem, both have brought happiness to my rainy morning.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love everything about this. Had, loved and learned from a black cat we had for 16 years. Hypnotize, harmonize, angels in disguise.....such craft, such
    heart.Purrfection, Irene.
    Janet F.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Squeee! I adore this. We adore our black cat Fiona. And Maud Lewis is my favorite! "October eyes." Only you. xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh I love this, Irene, those "October eyes" & then the ending surprise. Such fun!

    ReplyDelete
  7. "October eyes" is simply brilliant. I love the twist in your poem and the wonderful words throughout. I can see this poem being a favorite with kids. Thanks for the smile and the introduction to Maud Lewis.

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts?