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A few feathers dangled on string and rod
turns cat into kitten—plucks her from years
of majesty into furry belly-
up stretching reaching paddling paws with claws.
Fury and purrs seduce, admiration
turns gleeful and concentrated on cat-
kitten’s serious hunt until human
turns into tender tricky puppeteer.
Symbiosis! Feeder and fed, leader
and led, a Mobius strip of marriage—
yet observers well may ask who owns whom
and why they each pretend to love the game.
My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2016 Susan L. Chast
For all the snuggles on laps from the cats we owned there was still that fear of their need to show who really was the boss.
ReplyDeleteThe entrance of 'human' into this scene is interesting; now cat becomes just 'naughty kitty' while one bird family mourns
ReplyDeletenice !!
much love...
Yes, like some marriages - Who owns whom while both pretend to like the game.
ReplyDeleteLovely writing Susan.
I love the human turning into the "tender tricky puppeteer". It is wonderful how your two have slowly relaxed into safety and pleasure. So nice to see.
ReplyDelete"who owns whom" ha the essence is here...a lovely one...
ReplyDeleteThe days with a kitten are precious aren't they? I wonder does the cat play the puppeteer or the human?
ReplyDeleteFantastic prompt today, Susan!
have to agree with Sumana comment, I guess all us cat lover have dangled feathers from rods. I enjoyed this, Susan.
ReplyDeleteWhat an indepth poem - a moment of play really wondered.. No doubt play has a deeper agenda as we travel through life..but perhaps it is always necessary..a way of creating order..a meeting line and blending of beings.. I hope that there is some enjoyment in the featherstick for both parties though ;)
ReplyDeletePretending to love the game is what both humans and cats do, is it not?
ReplyDeleteImportant reflection. Appreciate this.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Me and my cats don't pretend anything....it's all real for us.:)
ReplyDeleteThey love the game, and so do we!
ReplyDeletewell put
ReplyDeletePerfect, Susan!
ReplyDeleteIndeed who owns whom is the question for all pet owners, I think. Smiles.
ReplyDelete"Feeder and fed, leader and led..." a perfect description of a cat and its person.
ReplyDeleteHa! I know it well.
ReplyDeleteyet observers well may ask who owns whom
ReplyDeleteand why they each pretend to love the game.
They are so lovable! They end up controlling our lives. We somehow would give way to their antics
Hank
Well-penned, Susan. Pets are an integral part of the family. Whether it's companionship or play, a tactile friendly feeling around one's feet or in one's hands, it is a symbiosis.
ReplyDelete