I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

15 August 2014

On Cold Nights (2)

This is the same poem I posted two days ago.  I am using it here for a dVerse request to mark up a poem so as to define the beats.  The heavy stresses are in bold. A caesura (a pause that's part of the rhythm) is indicated by square brackets around a space.


On Cold Nights

Although I have no husband now,
there are those that warm my bed.

One caresses my feet. [ ] My toes curl 
and stretch in ecstatic response

Another has my back. [ ] I snuggle in,
feeling comforted, safe.

A third is hot in my embrace
for hours, [ ] night after night.

There's a lad who sneaks in late. [ ] I wake to  see
his black-haired, handsome head [ ] lying beside mine.

My favourite, though, is grey-haired like me, [ ]
female like me. [ ] When I stroke her shapely flank,

she purrs. [ ] So does the black cat by my pillow ...
while the hot water bottles nestle quietly.

20 comments:

  1. Oh..because it's winter there. Yes, your meter is more or less regular and I suspect that you speak in a regular way. Your grammar is always impeccable and you know the way English works. I think I can almost hear your speech by the way you marked this piece and it gave me a smile. It's just a smidgen different that the way I speak Texan. Keep warm with your smart, soothing, and wondrous feline friends. Springtime is on its way (though autumn may hold off until November here..we've had the mildest spring and summer on record..and heat will make its mark before giving way to something cool! Thanks for linking..enjoyed your piece very much.

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    1. Interesting speculation, Gay. My speech is usually slangy and informal - but perhaps its rhythm is regular even so. I'll have to ask my friends. :)

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  2. ha. my old cat used to snuggle with us...my new stays out all night...such is the life eh? smiles...he gets his but mostly right after work or early in the morning...a nice easy rhythm to this one...the pauses late in this add an interesting effect

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  3. The way a poem is so natural like a spoken word, there is a gentleness, but also convincing tone of authority in a beat like that, the pauses mimic that of a cat moving - like she suddenly stop - listening - and then moves on. Great set of water bottles you have ;-)

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  4. Such a beautiful poem of the comfort of cats..for many years i am allergic to cats..but i hunker down..and overcome it..just to have some kitty love purring beside my head and feet at night!that yes i do enjoy from my yellow and or gray boy every night!

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  5. aww we get the warmth too from the loving words....

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  6. A heartfelt paeon to the comforting cats. The rhythm is as I would speak it.

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  7. smiles - sounds like you're having lots of company in your bed with all those cats around you... i can imagine how soothing a cat's soft purr in the night must be

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    1. A bit of a problem - the first three are actually hot water bottles, but everyone is taking that as a metaphor for the (really only 2) cats. I might have to do a rewrite, lol.

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  8. I still love this poem though my ear sang slightly differently. Very regular, like the peace they bring.

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  9. Lovely poem, and a nice, steady rhythm--unobtrusive, just like I like it.

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  10. These furry friends usually stretch out and take up all the space in a bed:)
    Otherwise definitely comfort and joy bedfellows.

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  11. Aww this is so lovely...makes me long for my kitty. She used to do the same she went missing some months back during a life upheaval. She was the biggest loss i suffered but I am so glad you have your lovely companions. I still have my little dog (she misses her friend too) so we comfort each other. A beautiful poem...sorry I raved on a little. :)

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    1. Oh, I can well understand that little "rave". I'm glad the poem made you feel free to do so - and so sorry you lost your cat.

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  12. Rosemary, I did not realize the first three were hot water bottles until the very end; but that is okay as it gave me an 'aha' moment, which is what poetry SHOULD do. Smiles. I can empathize with the warmth of your cats, as I feel the same about my dogs! They really are even better than hot water bottles would be in the dead of winter.

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    1. Mary, I'm glad you did realise. Thanks for saying so.

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    2. A lot pf people didn't though, so I have now tweaked it a bit and hopefully it'll be clearer.

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  13. I feel so warm after reading this ~ I usually snuggle with lots of blankets and pillows ~ Good beat Rosemary ~

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  14. I love it. Thank God for our creatures. And our hot water bottles!

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