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Dark Poetry #2
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the old aunt's emerald cat
| Dark Poetry #2 |
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the old aunt's emerald cat |
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Portia Member
since 2000-05-18
Posts 157 |
The emerald cat, there-- (and she points to a cat figurine which is plainly black) --has been in my family for centuries. A hundred centuries. *chuckle* Sometimes I feel it's been mine for that long. (there is the clink of sugar cubes in cups, and then she pours) Yes, mine for a hundred hundreds --Tea. --and a day. That old green cat has seen me through my giddy purple youth and my blood red maturity and my crone black years and now it sits and waits for my hundred hundreds and one to be over. Cookie? (the cat remains black, and new but if her words could make it so it would become green and a hundred centuries old. But her words-- they are only the words of an old Aunt on her hundred hundredth--) A hundred plus one day *chuckle* Not so many lifetimes, no Ancient and lonely, modern and loved contemporary, and downright lustful! And that old cat-- well sure, you can touch her. (and close, and small the cat's unglazed feet bear strange mark. The alphabet of centuries gone. Timeless, ageless is this cat, with its sleek black body and its very... very... green eyes. The eyes the Aunt has stared into all these lonely years. One could wish for no better companion.) I think she likes you! |
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Deborah1 Senior Member
since 2000-06-22
Posts 653New Hampshire |
What an interesting piece!! In life, it can be many things that bring a sense of friendship or company to a person. This cat came alive to me as I read this!! Like it very much!!!! The choices we make..will without doubt..direct the lives that we lead. Anonymous |
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lotharingia Senior Member
since 2000-06-04
Posts 897saarbruecken, Germany |
Portia, this is definitely my favourite aunt poem yet. I love the idea of the cat (an Egyptian cat?) and the questions that rise in our minds as we read. Is the cat really new and the aunt confused, and does she then manage to share her reality with you as you listen to her words? Reality is what we make it, after all. Or is the cat truly old and only apparently new? 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 |
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Portia Member
since 2000-05-18
Posts 157 |
I wanted to convey the sense that the speaker had been humoring the old aunt until the realization struck. The speaker had been looking at the cat and only seeing the surface, taking the aunt's words too literally. A "blue" hat could have green and purple in it as well, but if the flowers are mostly blue, we say the hat's blue. For the aunt, the cat's eyes were its most important feature. And actually-- the cat is very old but is well-kept. It isn't Egyptian but it is imported from the Mesopotamian region to Egypt; I could have just said "cuneiform" but I don't like to question the Muse  These are details I know didn't carry into the poem but I knew what I meant. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Damn good! Might I say that this just fairly rocks! I'm still trying to figure out what grabbed me so, abotu it. But for some reason, all I can do is picture a smirky grin being replaced with a genuine smile of wonderment! Awesome!! Christopher |
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Nicole Senior Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 1835Florida |
I am literally stunned by the subtle power this poem carries. What a use of imagery! The dialogue, suggested and otherwise, is heard, and the whole of the conversation played out like a little movie snapshot. This is excellent! Enjoyed very much! Nicole |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
Well it's all been said, but I second, (or sixth it) incredible images, and so strongly places you at the scene. Just great.. |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
This is incredible... very well put together and as I am an avowed cat freak...it grabbed me. K |
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Skyfyre Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906Sitting in Michael's Lap |
I saw this like a scene on a tapestry, brought to life -- there was something undoubtedly magical about it. What an intriguing post! On the technical side, I was also impressed -- you wrote just enough to keep it interesting, but not enough to make it tedious to read -- NOT an easy thing to judge with freeverse. Well done, Portia; I will be on the lookout for more of your work. --Kess YOUR LIFE IS A TEST It is only a test ... If this were your Actual Life, you would have been given better instructions! |
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Severn Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704 |
Portia - just wanted to boost this up again, cause I really really think it is awesome... K |
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