POEM: The Cat's Tale by Valerie Thornton

Sleep evades me, so I shall post this now. Second poem from Scottish Cats; second by Valerie Thornton - must find out more about her.


The Cat's Tale by Valerie Thornton

The cat doesn't understand
about reading
or the space between
my eyes and the paper
or the stillness.
The silence.

She pops up
between my propped elbows
soft as peach and ashes
under my chin
executes feline twirls
then lodges her tail
below my nose
so I can smell
how clean she is.

She sits on the page
translates the words
into thrumming
cheek/butts my nose
jaggy/licks my eyelid shut
and spins me
a compelling tale
of love beyond words.


Valerie Thornton (b.1954)



Goddess watch over us all,
'tis ok to be Takei,
Kerk TehKek

POEM: Otis by Hamish Whyte

Another one from Scottish Cats; different poet though.
This is dedicated to my dog, Tuppence; Bimbo, my cat, and Tessa a doggy who seemed as though she was around for ever. I'm sorry that I had to end your lives; sorrier that I have so few tangible memories of you, now that mine is failing. I will miss you always.


Otis by Hamish Whyte

I'd like to see you in my dreams, old cat,
nose pushing at the door
in welcome, warming your snowy
underside at the fire; ginger hovis
on my lap. Instead, I can't help
seeing you in your last minutes
staring at us with blind open eyes,
wheezing as your lungs shut down,
as all of you shut down,
your chin coming to rest
on the table as the drugs took
hold, put you to your dreamless sleep.


Hamish Whyte (b.1947)



Goddess watch over us all,
'tis ok to be Takei,
Kerk TehKek

POEM: Night Thoughts Afloat by Tu Fu (Du Fu) 712-770

Returning to one of the poets from the Three Tang Dynasty Poets collection issued as part of the Penguin Classics 80th Anniversary. This caught my eye yesterday morning; think it was the image of the Moon floating that did it. I watched Apollo 13 twice in about thirty-six hours; one of those movies/tv eps that I go to when I need comforting. Of all the lines in it that captures my imagination is Gene Krantz defiantly stating that, "with all due respect, I believe this will be our (NASA's) finest hour."

Anyway this is Night Thoughts Afloat by Tu Fu (Du Fu)

Night Thoughts Afloat

By bent grasses
in a gentle wind
Under straight mast
I'm alone tonight,

And the stars hang
above the broad plain
But moon's afloat
in this Great River:

Oh, where's my name
among the poets?
Official rank?
'Retired for ill-health.'

Drifting, drifting,
what am I more than
A single gull
between sky and earth?



Goddess watch over us all,
'tis ok to be Takei,
Kerk TehKek