I've known, ever since mother, the river, and the burlap bag,
that I mightn't be accepted by all.
When I look at you, I cannot blink.
Do you find my stare unsettling? It is where love starts.
More importantly, it establishes my link with the Moon.
So. We have been together at last.
Now you know they don't stay sheathed, even in an embrace.
I'm sorry. But not. Better go clean up.
Some say I can't be trusted; such a lie.
Wave a fish in front of my face and your data will never vary.
By the way, though, we're through.
Reader, behold me in my solitude.
I screech at the top of my lungs, position myself pitifully in the rain
beyond your sliding door, but open it and I'll walk away.
We, the deformed, are beautiful. Independent. Unique.
So, reader, why this charade, this posturing for your attention?
We do not hunger--there are songbirds.
Cardboard boxes abound.
What we want is simple, and useless:
Smile, reader, and free us to abandon you.
Smile, freak, and let us ponder how you do.
________
for Music With Meow at Real Toads.
The claws in this are sharp and playful, but a playful cat can mean a tortured, bleeding mouse. I love the way you turned the stereotypes inside out here, Shay. Especially the grue in the final stanzas.
ReplyDeleteGoddess, this is refreshing brilliance.
ReplyDeleteI just meowed at my daughter, all because of you. ;)
So hot: http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Kcat
Shall I quote my favorites? Probably not; there would only be about three words left out. Still, I'll do it anyway. ;) ~Just my absolute "most-favorite-of-all"s.
"It is nice of you to love me, despite my deformity."
"Do you find my stare unsettling?"
"it establishes my link with the Moon"
"Now you know they don't stay sheathed, even in an embrace.
I'm sorry. But not. Better go clean up." (I love that this touches on claws AND condoms.)
"Some say I can't be trusted; such a lie.
Wave a fish in front of my face and your data will never vary." (KICK-ASS!!!) ... (Plus, I love the way you dove into that next line, so matter-of-factly yet unexpected-like. Purr-fect.)
the whole fifth stanza --- you completely get my soul
the last three lines (freaking amazing way to close ... while somehow, opening)
No one revs me up like you do. No one. Like I said, you're the Goddess, missy. Now, give me more, please.
Such a fun read,, then the claws come out.. readers beware!
ReplyDeleteI love my cats. Each one was special, but Laurie, the white short hair with one green and one eye was my favorite. She used to mouth a meow whenever I said Goodbye to her. She was half-deaf and would sit with me at the piano and purred whenever I sang. That's my girl.
ReplyDeleteLoved the way you captured all cats here. La la Meowskowitz
Wave a fish and your data will never vary. I love that.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a three-legged black cat. She was quite the impressive kitty. Love this!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention what a gut-twist this was: "I've known, ever since mother, the river, and the burlap bag" ... It reminds of your previous poem about how no one comes out mean; they're twisted by something/someone ... in this case, by her own mother trying to kill her (most likely in a figurative way, but still, damaging nonetheless).
ReplyDelete"...mother, the river and the burlap bag."
ReplyDeleteIncredible.
Meow, nice! Love this. As a kid my sister found kittens in a bag in the river and one had survived... who lived to be 20 years old. :)
ReplyDeleteI grew up with cats so I know how they balance on the edge between affection and independence... but after all there is that wave of a fish... If we'd ever get a pet it would be a cat... a big one, like a Maine Coon..
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Arresting, the mother, the river, the burlap bag.........telling, it sitting pitifully at the glass door then, when it opens, walking away. I resonate..........you are always fabulous to read and I really enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteI hear a survivor song in this. I can purr and claw...lately my claws won't retract.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a DemoKcat to take a whiz on the burlap sack of Destiny. I appoint you secretary of skate for slicing this one out of the coming winter.
ReplyDeleteThe stare is unsettling...
ReplyDeleteWow, phenomenal. Heartbreaking and creepy and brilliant--how do you do this?
ReplyDelete