Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for Roundup.
Spring has most certainly sprung in these parts! I love this time of year for many reasons, not the least of which is arts & craft fairs. This weekend I'm daytripping to three such occasions...yay!
Earlier this week I presented with Karim Shamsi-Basha at University of Montevallo about The Cat Man of Aleppo. Huge thanks to all you fabulous folks at Montevallo!!
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| (l-r) Carey Heatherly, Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha, Sheila Brandt |
Which may explain why this week's ArtSpeak: Animals features a cat poem. Our beloved Maggie is 12 years old now. What a sweet friend she is! In fact, she helped me with this poem. Thank you so much for reading.
I crouched
pounced
yowled and scatted.
I chased my own tail.
Later, I puddled
in a circle of sunshine.
I bathed with July eyes
and an August tongue.
I s tr e t c h e d—
all the way to next year.
I learned claws
are for sharpening,
string for tangling.
A box is a beginning,
and a purr?
Now this little cat
knows a purr
is the cure
for just about anything.
Purrrrrrr.
- Irene Latham
I don't have a cat anymore, but I remember each of your Maggie's actions, especially that Purrrrrrr, & love "a box is a beginning", Irene. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteThis is magic: I bathed with July eyes
ReplyDeleteand an August tongue. Love it!
"July eyes and an August tongue" - so unexpected and purrrfect!
ReplyDeleteOh, your sweet cat! She did a great job helping you write this poem. I love her voice in this collection of her antics.
ReplyDelete"I learned claws
are for sharpening,
string for tangling." Yes, indeed! I've had enough experience with cats to know that is what they believe.
So many purrfect details.
"puddled" is a perfect verb for a cat...yours, mine, all cats. I love the personality features that come through in this poem. My cat's purr is absolutely a cure for me. Happy shopping at craft fairs! So much fun!
ReplyDeleteand "a box is a beginning" -- so perfect for kitties and for babies! Your poem brought me joy this Saturday morning! And perfectly paired with Gaugin's painting!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to report that I am "puddled" on the couch reading your paw-some poem, Irene. Thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet and true, Irene! I miss having a cat. Those purrs are cures indeed!
ReplyDeleteCats do enjoy "helping" with just about anything they can lie on, don't they! My parent's cat (which will be mine one day) is also particularly proficient at s t r e t c h i n g all the way to next year. (LOVE that line!) And BTW, your National Poetry Month postcard is gorgeous this year, Irene.(Meant to email, but never got around to it.) I always enjoy that gift in my mailbox.
ReplyDeleteAh, what a purrr-fect poem to unwind with, thanks Irene! And thanks for your lovely Poetry Postcard too!
ReplyDeleteIrene, I love this poem with its beautiful images. "I puddled
ReplyDeletein a circle of sunshine"=>gorgeous!
Irene, do you have an Artspeak image poem that I can add to my Poetryliscious Gallery Project for NPM22? This one is lovely.
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