Cat is such a scratchy word
onomatopoeic as quill
on parchment - and quite literal too.

Cat's a contrary mix. Velveteen
paws with claws withdrawn
or sword drawn at dawn
to catch-and-cull the early birds

Cat sleeps in soft pile
carpets of feelable, fun fur.

Cat hisses and howls;
cheek by jowl when love
comes caterwauling

Cat walks alone.
All places are alike to cat
- just so, says Kipling*
and being most catholic in abodes
can cat-nap, lapped in a hovel
before a small, neat fire
or curled in cathedral pews
one spyglass eye
on church mice congregants 
their hymn book suppers shared
with worm

Cat can't be categorized;
and purrs don't make a person
 - so I never baggage cat
with personality 

Cat is companion
to me though!

32 thoughts on “The quality of cat”

1. What? No comely image of a cat? But fair is far because you already did, and was one of the best ever, dear Moog. Meanwhile…

   Growltiger was a Bravo Cat, who traveled on a barge;
   In fact he was the roughest cat that ever roamed at large.
   From Gravesend up to Oxford he pursued his evil aims,
   Rejoicing in his title of ‘The Terror of the Thames’.

   For my English friend, you know whom.

   1. Ah Eliot being his least modernist with a fondness for Cats! thank you Neil – no pic of Moog as I smuggled here into the stanzas

      1. for you, a Cheshire smile 😃

2. “Cat can’t be categorized,” … oh how I love that! Stunning response to the prompt, Laura 💜💜

   1. thank you for appreciating the cat word play 🙂

3. ‘The cat that walked by himself’ is my favourite of all the Just So stories, Laura – I also love Kipling’s ghost stories – and, as you know, I adore cats. The opening stanza really grabbed me, and I love the sounds and wordplay in:
   ‘Cat’s a contrary mix. Velveteen
   paws with claws withdrawn
   or sword drawn at dawn’.
   I also love these lines:
   ‘can cat-nap, lapped in a hovel
   before a small, neat fire
   or curled in cathedral pews
   one spyglass eye
   on church mice congregants’.
   I have known a cathedral cat, a café cat, a restaurant cat and a pub cat, amongst others.

   1. those various cat citizens are worthy of a poem Kim – and thank you for inspiring the poem with your prompt

4. Cats are nothing if not a mixture of good, bad, and ugly. Favorite part:
   “I never baggage cat / with personality.”

   1. thank you Lisa

      1. You’re welcome.

5. This is wonderful….the word choices and “c” words fit so well. I especially love the last stanza. Such complex creatures!

   1. many thanks Mish – the c words were half the fun for me

6. I enjoyed your tribute to the qualities of a cat. The velveteen feet with claws hidden inside seems to describe all of us. Ready when the time comes to bring them out and protect ourselves.

   1. ye we all do fight and flight Dwight

7. I am the consummate lover of cats! Thus, I am adoring your poem! Brava!

   1. my cataffection is limited to the bird killer retirees as per my current companion – thank you Helen

8. A contrary mix indeed. (K)

   1. indeed K

9. Fantastic character sketch and I love this part specially: cats can’t be categorized… The c word & dawn choices specially in the second stanza is very skillful.

   1. many thanks for such lovely feedback Grace

10. Oh how finicky a cat can be! Definitely an animal that deserves a poem dedicated to it!

    1. that is a stanza I should have written

       1. Add it on! 😊

11. Nice one!!!

    Much💚love

    1. ❤

12. The fact they cannot be CATegorized or baggaged with personality sums up the quality of cats purrrfectly, Laura!

    1. glad you think so too Lynn

13. Such a cat-chy opening, “Cat is such a scratchy word”. I enjoyed your response to the prompt.

    1. nice one ‘catchy’ 😉

14. Cat is catty. Cat is stylish.

15. Love the fun play of words describing these wonderful creatures.

    1. yes it was fun to do too

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