Hi Grassy,

Lot in here. My two cats are opposites. One clears the plate, the other goes
and leaves it while the former eats what's left. I like the Kaplan
statement. I think what comes out of the poem for me is that there are no
absolutes. Thanks for the read.



bw
James





>From: grasshopper <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New sub: Growing up with animals
>Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 10:31:51 -0000
>
>  Growing up with animals
>(Adults are prone to create myths about the meaning of adolescence.- Louise
>J. Kaplan)
>
>I was an awkward child, always asking
>questions, always wanting to know
>more: what, if, how, when, where?
>
>Why? my cat reprimanded me silently,
>plump on the pillow where she should not be.
>She slanted sloe irises at me, signalled
>
>she knew more than I would ever know.
>Licking her paw, she viewed the lippy kid
>with well-fed tolerance. I was allowed
>
>to stroke the bright plateau of her belly,
>caress the tender ears, feel drowsy throbbing
>in my lap. The dog waited for me to explain
>
>things. Cats will eat what they need,
>then leave the dish. A dog will clear each plate
>in case it's never refilled. Seek serenity,
>
>said the furred coil of felinity warming
>my thighs, while the spaniel frowned and gazed
>across the room at stomach pangs.
>
>Cat and dog brush against each other,
>sleep side by side by certain accidents,
>breathe in unison through separate dreams.
>
>                                                 (grasshopper)
>
>

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