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Dark Poetry #2
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Portia
Member
since 2000-05-18
Posts 157


0 posted 2000-07-16 04:19 AM


When I was twenty-one
I had a heart ache
oh, I thought I would never overcome.
I was no one's aunt then,

*chuckle*

and no one's lover.
but the cat...
my emerald cat was there.
If not for her, I never--

Well, I will just say it was bad.

(and her eyes grow soft
and she is no longer here
as she remembers the nights
the cat would wake

she would place her in a window
for the full moon to catch,
and watch in neverending delight
as her little pet shivered, blinked, and shone
like no onyx being ever had.

the lovely little cat would stretch
its claws and paws and ears,
sneeze and yawn and arch
then turn its lovely still-emerald eyes,
now awake with devotion,
to her mistress

and leap from the windowsill and dart,
heart first, into the lap and arms
of the warm, soft girl who adored her.

They lived for the full moon.
It was a time of companionship,
warmth, sharing...
she would brew catnip tea
and they would drink from cups and saucers
and eat salmon with cream sauce.

The cat purred, and the woman wrote,
talking and listening to that little muse
pausing when the cat would grow tired
or bored, licking her paw, grooming her face,
nudging the hand that held the pen,
batting at the feather on the archaic quill.

Then she would brush her,
and the black coat would glisten in candlelight
as she curled by the fire, and the girl,
the woman, would sigh contentedly, a small
purr in her own throat.

The young, vibrant skin has lost some glow,
but the eyes are still youthful.

And the emerald cat still watches, listens,
waits for the evening once a month
when her mistress places her in the windowsill
and the moon shines in.)


And she sighs:
To this day, well, I cannot write without
my kitten,
my old, green cat, sitting right there.

Oh, pooh. You, you nod your head.
Yes, I'm old.
You see me pouring tea and rattling on,

*chuckle*

But look. She likes to be petted,
even now: go on, I don't mind.
Look, look how her eyes do shine.

And, startled, you can see that they do.

[This message has been edited by Portia (edited 07-16-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Portia - All Rights Reserved
Portia
Member
since 2000-05-18
Posts 157

1 posted 2000-07-16 04:22 AM


This was a spark that I neither lit nor had land on me. This was one given to me by my best friend as we sat talking about the emerald cat. She gave her interpretation... and it was too perfect to be left out. Thank you, gothicmoth, so very much. I truly enjoyed writing this one.
lotharingia
Senior Member
since 2000-06-04
Posts 897
saarbruecken, Germany
2 posted 2000-07-16 05:36 AM


This one is so brilliant. What a lovely story. I wish I had a cat like that, but then again, three that are always alive are just as good!
Anyway, where IS gothicmoth???  
BTW, there's a story by Tanith Lee about a woman with loads of cats who ends up "becoming" a cat herself.


Lotharingia
"For God's sake, he's a poet. Poets are meant to feel miserable. Otherwise, what the hell are they here for? What are they going to write about?"
Tom Holland


catalinamoon
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone
3 posted 2000-07-16 09:42 AM


Portia, this is lovely, and so incredibly well written. I'm thinking you should do at least a short story on this. You make the whole subject so alive. Awe inspiring.
Portia
Member
since 2000-05-18
Posts 157

4 posted 2000-07-17 12:16 PM


Look at this, this is great. I have groupies   You are both so kind.

If I may presume to answer a little for gothicmoth, she *is* reading. Her muse right now, is... well, currently grooming and nudging, rather than purring.

moshpit
Member
since 1999-11-25
Posts 143
cebu, philippines
5 posted 2000-07-17 06:07 AM


this a long poem.. but when i read it, it felt like it was very concise.. and i didn't mind reading twice over.. nice work, Portia.
Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

6 posted 2000-07-17 06:47 AM


Wow - more please...make a series! And send me the links when you do!! LOL...

Seriously, these two poems of yours are some of the most unique and wonderful freeverse I have read for quite some time...enthralling...

K

SpitFire
Member Elite
since 2000-04-19
Posts 2396

7 posted 2000-07-17 11:50 AM


~Portia,...just dropping in to let you know how much I enjoyed this piece.  It totally sucked me right in and swallowed me whole.  Had me the entire time,...all wrapped up in it. Wonderful work. Be well. *Peace.
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