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.

14 November 2013

How to Be a Cat

You may be fat, you may be lean,
or even something in  between.
It doesn’t really matter what;
it’s not the waistline makes the cat.

But you must learn to move with grace
and be inscrutable of face.
You need to undulate and slink,
while not revealing what you think.

Your deepest thoughts I mean, of course.
The urgent you’ll convey with force —
like, ‘Let me out!’ and  ‘Feed me now!’
‘Purr!’ is reward; chastisement ‘Miaow!’

You have to train your human pet.
You must be firm. Don’t ever let
them really have the upper hand,
though they may think so — understand?

But there are limits, I’m afraid,
to how much headway can be made.
They’ll never learn to hunt and kill,
although you demonstrate with skill.

But you can show them where you itch
and teach them proper ways to scratch,
and how much room you need in bed,
and let them stroke you when they’re good.

Your fur and whiskers and your claws,
you will clean them — they are yours.
And you will keep both yard and house
free of lizard, bird or mouse.

So you establish boundaries,
and can create a life of ease.
And if you will do all of that,
it won’t be hard to be a cat.


Poetic Asides November Poem A Day Challenge, 13: Self help

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