One of my first pets was a cat named Muffin who lived 22 years, most of them outdoors. I'm happy to remember her in this poem.
Maine Coon Calico
By Steven Withrow
If I wondered how each night you’d held your ground,
forepaws declawed,
among other huntresses—tufted owl
who snuffed the breaths of moles,
she-snake slinking rabbits from their holes—
the cello sound
of your E-minor yowl
lauded you murderess, marauder.
Your morning gifts of mouse heads on the mat,
these too were proof
of pride and preternatural toughness of your breed,
famous for your shag,
snowshoe pads and raccoon’s shrub-tail flag,
long for a cat,
stalking through the weeds,
aloof from the sharp-shinned hawk that hooked the roof.
14 comments:
Good, Kittie, Muffin! You look like a sphinx in that picture! Your ancestors (and your cousins on the Serengeti in Africa) would be proud of you.
Beautiful kitty, beautiful poem. So many wonderful sounds and images -- sometimes I miss those mouse heads on the mat!
I love the line "The cello sound/ Of you E-minor yowl" My housemate in grad school had a maine coon cat and that perfectly describes her voice.
The cello sound
Of your E-minor yowl
Perfect! I shall listen for our neighborhood hunters with this in mind now.
Oooh. Murderess, marauder! What a description. And she looks so sweet. Very nice.
What a wonderful tribute. I love the playfulness of the lines and how for some reason the poem does carry a cat-feel to it. :)
Murderess, marauder is a great description. Our mackerel tabby coon is much longer haired, and an indoor cat only, but our previous outdoor shorthaired cats used to bring us those treats for our blessing before crunching the skull...as if we lived for that sound!
I liked the cello comparison too. She sounds so fierce!
I love the way you use language and draw your images! Great ending too.
Love that E-minor howl, and that "killer" last line. Thanks for sharing. (And Renee misses mouse heads on the mat?!)
Thanks, everyone, for the encouraging words!
Muffin (aptly named only because of her blueberry muffin markings) was once hit by a car and broke several ribs, but she managed to bounce back quickly. What a fighter she was!
She was beautiful! Love your language, as always. Your poems are so rich in sound and images. Favorite bit: tufted owl / Who snuffed the breaths of moles
So many wonderful lines in this, Steven! I love:
"The cello sound
Of your E-minor yowl"
Sounds like a cat worth remembering!
Violet
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