Oh keep the Dog far hence, that’s friend to men.
This night was made for cats and witchy women.
We don’t wag tails, we switch and hiss: feline;
deadly as gods, not merely bitchy women.
The fires we light tonight will surely burn
into your brain visions of witchy women
and shadowy cats. They slink and scratch, they turn
against the firelight; restless, itchy women
who rub against you, catlike on your skin,
furry and purring – wanton witchy women.
Oh take the tame Dog hence, that slave to man.
Try the embrace of Danger: richly woman!
Written for Magaly's prompt for day 1 of 'Dark Poetry for the Cruellest Month': Has It Begun To Sprout? asking us to use a line from Eliot's The Waste Land in a poem. In this case it's my first line.
Also linked to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #296.
Photo © Rosemary Nissen-Wade 2016. This photo is mine and should not be copied or used in any way without permission.
Written for Magaly's prompt for day 1 of 'Dark Poetry for the Cruellest Month': Has It Begun To Sprout? asking us to use a line from Eliot's The Waste Land in a poem. In this case it's my first line.
Also linked to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #296.
Photo © Rosemary Nissen-Wade 2016. This photo is mine and should not be copied or used in any way without permission.
My smile was so huge, by the time I got to the end of this poem, that I thought my cheeks were ready to kiss my ears. This is delicious. I hissed and the poem hissed, and gave the dogs the stink eye in all the appropriate places, too.
ReplyDeleteThis would be so much fun to chant, Rosemary. I can only imagine the hisses and cackles. :-D
Thanks so much for bringing the kitties into the Cruellest Month! ♥
A lovely portrayal of felines and witchy women! I laughed, the hissing and scratching almost sound like cat wars. I've never been a cat person, so I'll stick with my tame dog:)
ReplyDeleteDelicious. I wish I"d thought of it first.
ReplyDeleteI love how I got swept up in it when the line breaks came mid-sentence, just when you get into the wildness of the night - the fire, the cats, the women. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely gorgeous writing Rosemary :D
ReplyDeleteOh, this is witching wonderful.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, totally--embrace the fire and life! My two back cats played up and down the stairs all night. I wait for their love, but, hey, once they decide . . .
ReplyDeleteI love by dog
ReplyDeletebut can not deny this
a smile and a sigh
This felt like it could have been part of Elliot's homage to cats (Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats). I love how out it sounds read aloud too. It has a very storybook feel to it. :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful! "The embrace of danger." May I use that for a painting title? I will certainly credit you!
ReplyDeleteI'd love that, Mary Ann! (Just please make sure you spell my surname right; so many don't.)
DeleteOh Rosemary, this is so delicious. Here in Bengal, we call the cat as tiger's aunt (maternal)...he he he....
ReplyDeleteI love the wisdom in the line, as deadly as gods. ~
ReplyDeleteSo that is why cats give me the evil eye because I am dog lover. Cats certainly know who is boss...they are!
ReplyDeleteWonderful. A treat to read :)
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a difference between bitchy and witchy - independent, strong..navigating the world on our own terms..accepting a respectful stroke of the head and a treat now and again..indeed - Oh keep the Dog far hence, that’s friend to men...superb!
ReplyDeleteMeowwww! Love this, made me feel slinky and (already dressed in black) ready to purr :)
ReplyDeleteA lovely rhythm to this one. I normally do not like poetry to be read out but this one is very suited to it.The only other poet I have ever heard of who did not like his poems read out loud was Kenneth Slessor.
ReplyDeleteWitchy women are fine. I would categorise myself as a witchy woman...you know, casting spells on people and causing mayhem generally but not a bitchy witchy woman...they should be tied to the termite hills:)Loved your poem.
The fires we light tonight will surely burn
ReplyDeleteinto your brain visions of witchy women
It gives an insight to what a woman can react to when provoked. It is best not to provoke!
Hank
wicked. and fun! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool poem, Rosemary. Although I am a dog lady, I love the way you have differentiated between cat and dog owners here. Lots of fun to read.
ReplyDeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteThe rhythm in this....the lyricism.....feels like a chant or an incantation to the power of women. Love it. And, yes please....keep the dog far hence :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the way it flows, reminds me of watching a cat cross a room, or on the hunt in a backyard. Dogs have always been drawn to me, so I am always surprised when cats come and ask for a stroke or two. Maybe I'm not as much of a witchy woman as I thought?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Bewitching and lovely Rosemary! :-)
ReplyDeletenice write, take on the cats leave the dogs hence for a while
ReplyDeletehave a nice Sunday
much love...
These are my favorites:
ReplyDelete"we switch and hiss: feline"
"restless, itchy women / who rub against you"
Well... you certainly made your point. Watch out for the warlock. :-)
ReplyDeleteZQ
The fires we light tonight will surely burn - that they will with a bit of magic.
ReplyDeleteLoved the rhythm here! Hiss and sizzle!
ReplyDeleteI thought this deliciously wicked!
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine...maybe later in life...sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteOh I love this. May the witchy woman rule!!!
ReplyDeleteNice descriptions of the witchy soul, and ohh so very true, even though my familiar is a chihuahua.
ReplyDeleteYour are chanting some poetic spells, Rosemary, & casted too in a witching hour (15:35..) if that wasn't a coincidence. :) I love this!
ReplyDeleteThis is definately a great guilty pleasure. lol
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love the cat like witchy woman! You have captured the cat mystique perfectly, too!
ReplyDeleteThis is a treat - complete with a magic spell ... I think I feel a cackle-a-brewin'. A very cool bit of writing!
ReplyDeleteOh that was a very clever use of the line, spawning a totally different kind of poem *though being mostly wolf I prefer the company of dogs lol* :D XXX
ReplyDelete