A Cat's Tale: as told to this human

It was a noisy chorus of cats punctuated by the yip of a dog or two. The Animal Clinic was busy with the goings and comings of us and our humans. None of the others looked particularly happy about being there either. Quite a waste of our time, so we each curled up in our kennels until we went off to some other room, got poked and prodded and then taken home again. 

Yes, I had a sore paw, and I was cranky but I could have stayed home. Just because I couldn’t walk very well, she decided that we had to join that noisy throng. I was quiet and refined. Now I’m home with a large bandage on my sore paw. I’ll admit it has made it feel better - until I try to walk on it. Then it feels in the way and hurts. I mean have you ever tried to climb in your litter box with one foot dragging behind! So I’ll just be off and under the bed where it’s quiet and dark. 

“A cat is above all things, a dramatist.”

~ Margaret Benson, English Author

(1865 - 1916)

Moon Drift

 

clear azure sky

fades into black velvet

sifted with stars and moon drift.

“No sight is more provocative of awe than is the night sky.”

~ Llewelyn Powys, British essayist

(1884 - 1939)

Bejewelled

Air muggy and thick

 Roses bejewelled with 

shining raindrops

“We’re as ephemeral as raindrops. 

We all fall, and we all land somewhere.”

~ Robert Charles Wilson, author

Beckoning

The old school yard beckoned.

I’ve walked that street many times 

but never saw the place 

where my feet would take me. 

A woman sat at one 

of the picnic tables reading

On the far side of the school yard, 

children played on the swings

Hand in hand, a couple walked in with their dogs.

The old school yard beckoned.

“When a thing beckons you to explore it without 

telling you why or how, this is not a red herring; it’s a map.”

~ Gina Greenlee, Postcards and Pearls: 

Life Lessons from Solo Moments on the Road

Bright Spot

She sat. Her elbows rested on the table. She stared out the window hoping she would find the answer out in the sky, in the trees, some piece of inspiration that was avoiding her gaze. Her children, still toddlers, were just waking from their naps. Good. A distraction. They’ll be hungry and I’ll fix them a lunch. Her inspiration was really those precious little ones. Right now they were clean, but after a PB&J sandwich, their sticky fingers made her happy. That was always the bright spot in her day - feeding her little ones, washing them up after and getting big smoochy kisses from them. Oh yes, it was always a repeat performance, but when topped with those soft toddler hugs, she was happy to do it all again. And that toddler brightness would never dim, but her heart would carry it even as she watched them grow. Letting go would not be easy, but their lives would be theirs to shape.

“When I approach a child, he inspires me in two sentiments ~

tenderness for what he is and respect for what he may become.”

~ Louis Pasteur

Why Wasn't I Told?

 

Why wasn’t I told? 

I am not perfect!

I am just another human being.

Why wasn’t I told?

That perfectionists are kind of nerdy.

That being human means enough.

Why wasn’t I told?

That being perfect takes energy!

That being human allows me to dance to my own tune.

Why wasn’t I told? 

I am not perfect! I knew that!

I am just another human being. Ok, I guess I'll take that.

“On Tolkien: ‘His fussiness threatened to overwhelm his creativity.’”

~Alister E. McGrath: C.S.Lewis:

A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet

Rain

 

Summer green trees

restless despite the rain

falling steadily 

down and down

clouds heavy with moisture 

shed their tears on land 

dry enough to welcome their sadness.

“It doesn’t  matter if it’s raining and dark. 

The sun is shining above the clouds.”

 Elie Tahari, fashion designer