Jone Rush MacCulloch hosts our Poetry Friday today HERE at her blog with a fabulous "poetree" of all those lovely postcards many of us have been sharing. Thanks to Jone!
I'm letting you know I shared Naomi Shihab Nye's Castaway on my Monday post earlier this week. It is another treasure from Naomi.
I've been writing poems with a group hosted by Bridget Magee these recent months and enjoying sending a poem and receiving feedback, then getting one from someone else and giving them feedback. Here is one I've shared and one I was glad to hear from others about.
They haven't all been etherees, but I enjoy working with this form's constraints.
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| My cat Macavity from long ago! |
take a word like . . .
cat
whiskers
bowl of cream
swish, swishing tail
a loving brush-by
evening quiet tip-toe
his tinkling bell announces
a leaping to the window sash
meow and meow at the winging by
imagining the catch he never had
Linda Baie ©
Wishing you all a Happy February!
What a delightful poem, Linda, for a sweet cat. Macivity-is that name from the movie Cats?
ReplyDeleteI really liked the line, "evening quiet tip-toe". I am sorry that I never had a chance to be part of Bridget's writing community but glad that you reaped the benefits. Have a great day. I am writing from my house in VA. After a long week of serious post-COVID vaccine after-effects, I am feeling renewed.
Yes, Macavity is from "Cats". He was a wonderful cat, picked out long ago by my daughter at the local animal shelter. Bridget's group has been super to be in, not too much pressure but a good connection to others. Sorry about your after-effects, Carol. I assume they are from a second dose? Glad to here you're better! Thanks!
DeleteYour etheree is a delight, Linda! I can just imagine Macavity's "loving brush-by". I am SO glad you are a part of our group - we're learning so much from each other. (I'm welcome to new participants if anyone else wants to join us. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad, too, Bridget. Thank you for getting it going!
DeleteI love this poem, Linda. You've really captured what a cat is like.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alex, wishing I had a cat now & remembering what it was like was a feel-good time of writing.
DeleteThat "loving brush-by"...wonderful! And I read your review of Cast-Away which took me to more of your wonderings and reviews. Thank you for everything you share. What a teacher you are ~ We are all blessed by your dance.
ReplyDeleteThanks, April, so glad you enjoyed the poem (now with your new cat) & other things, too, like that review. I enjoyed Castaways so much!
DeleteI especially like these lines
ReplyDeleteswish, swishing tail
a loving brush-by
evening quiet tip-toe
The way cats communicate melt me. I cannot resist them. I love the name McCavity! How funny.
I love this form too, Linda... and yours is so fun with the bowl of cream and the tinkling bell. Thanks for sharing this...
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the essence of cat in your poem -- with all the delight they bring with the swish swishing tail and loving brus-by.
ReplyDeleteLet me echo what others have said -- love your kitty poem, esp. the "loving brush-by" and "evening quiet tip-toe." What a treat to see a pic of Macavity too. Thanks for this delight today, Linda.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, Karen, Kay, & Jama. Evidently each of you love cats as I do. My daughter has five cats so I do get some cat love when I visit!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteAwww. 'Loving brush-by' is just lovely. I have never tried an etheree but think I soon will.
ReplyDeleteThis: “swish, swishing tail”. What a lovely tribute to your cat.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I love how your kitty announces what's she's up to, "a leaping to the window sash," and you give lots of sweet cat details in your etheree.
ReplyDeleteThis is just a wonderful etheree, Linda! So many imaginative word choices!
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone for coming by. Cats are wonderful and I guess we all agree!
ReplyDeleteYou are the master of the etheree, Linda - here capturing the essence of cat. That last line is so poignant and perfect. Every line so beautifully worded. Love the photo of "old" Macavity - great Practical Cat name. I am allergic to cats (alas) but have occasionally wished I could have one just to name Old Deuteronomy. Maybe Ronomy for short.
ReplyDeleteMy son is allergic to cats, too, Fran, so we thought he could handle it & didn't get Macavity until he went to college! It went fine. Macavity was a slick short-hair, not too much dander! Thanks for enjoying my poem about him.
DeleteThe "evening quiet tip-toe" is perfectly cat-like, Linda. And I also LOVE that you had a cat named Macavity!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura. My daughter named him after seeing Cats. She had the pleasure of having one of those actors come sit with her during the play! I do miss theater!
DeleteLove the imagery of your cat poem, swish of the tail so familiar.
ReplyDelete"meow and meow at the winging by"-- what a lovely portrait.
ReplyDelete"a loving brush-by" -- love that. :) And Macavity is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe etheree is fun to play around with!
Thanks, Margaret, Heidi, & Karen, it was a good feeling to write about Macavity & really about all cats!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely etheree! I love when the form fits so naturally that you don't notice...until you do and then admire the poet's craft in making it all work so beautifully together!
ReplyDelete