Thursday, February 4, 2021

Poetry Friday - Simply Watch

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.


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!

28 comments:

  1. What a delightful poem, Linda, for a sweet cat. Macivity-is that name from the movie Cats?
    I 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.

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    1. 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!

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  2. Your 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. :)

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    1. I'm so glad, too, Bridget. Thank you for getting it going!

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  3. I love this poem, Linda. You've really captured what a cat is like.

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    1. Thank you, Alex, wishing I had a cat now & remembering what it was like was a feel-good time of writing.

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  4. That "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.

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    1. Thanks, April, so glad you enjoyed the poem (now with your new cat) & other things, too, like that review. I enjoyed Castaways so much!

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  5. I especially like these lines
    swish, 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.

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  6. I love this form too, Linda... and yours is so fun with the bowl of cream and the tinkling bell. Thanks for sharing this...

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  7. You have captured the essence of cat in your poem -- with all the delight they bring with the swish swishing tail and loving brus-by.

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  8. Let 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.

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  9. Thanks 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!

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  10. So sweet! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com

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  11. Awww. 'Loving brush-by' is just lovely. I have never tried an etheree but think I soon will.

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  12. This: “swish, swishing tail”. What a lovely tribute to your cat.

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  13. Linda, 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.

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  14. This is just a wonderful etheree, Linda! So many imaginative word choices!

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  15. Thanks to everyone for coming by. Cats are wonderful and I guess we all agree!

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  16. You 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.

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    1. My 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.

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  17. The "evening quiet tip-toe" is perfectly cat-like, Linda. And I also LOVE that you had a cat named Macavity!

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    1. Thanks, 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!

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  18. Love the imagery of your cat poem, swish of the tail so familiar.

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  19. "meow and meow at the winging by"-- what a lovely portrait.

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  20. "a loving brush-by" -- love that. :) And Macavity is beautiful.
    The etheree is fun to play around with!

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  21. Thanks, Margaret, Heidi, & Karen, it was a good feeling to write about Macavity & really about all cats!

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  22. What 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!

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