Wake Up Call

Whiskers in the morning

And paws on the bed
To bring me to waking
From dreams in my head

To soft eyes to greet me
To soft purrs to hear
Lying beside me
As day gathers near

Oh great one oh small one
How sweetly you call
As nights long dark shadows
How swiftly they fall

From light through the window
From light from your soul
Stay here awhile now
And make the world whole

For my buddy John who dislikes reading Homer

Homer lived a long time ago
He wrote poems that you may know
Though his poems weren't bad
He's better known as the Dad
On "The Simpsons" TV show

First Fur*

My kitty sheds at both ends;
All day and every night;
On cotton, wool, and polyester blends - 
My clothes, a sorry sight!

(Version 2)

My cat has fur at both ends;

And sheds both day and night;

On cotton, wool, and polyester blends -

My clothes, a sorry sight!

*Hat tip to Edna St. Vincent Millay

Kitty Tail

The tail is happy the tail is high

The tail is proudly tall

The tail is a fluffy question mark

That gladly comes to call

When skies are gray and days are short

In the coldest winter season

When joyful moments are hidden away

Kitty's tail always sees them

The tail is calm the tail is grace

Waving to and fro

The tail brings up the kitty's rear

Wherever she may go

The tail is quiver the tail is tense

With a bird up in a tree

Outside a window and kitty perched

With focused energy

The tail is curled and tucked in tight

Around the dainty feet

Napping curled into a ball

Saving body heat

The tail is fast the tail is quick

As the kitty zooms

Streamlined in a furry streak

Chasing 'round the rooms

The tail is constant the tail is true
The tail is ever reliable
The tail is rarely ever blue
The tail is undeniable

And if the tail is hanging low

When kitty's mood is poor

Scratch the head and soothing words

The tail goes up once more

Poetry. “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers. By Emily Dickinson. Condensed and loosely referenced by Paul Klusman.

Emily had a bird in a cage.
Named “Hope” that sang and played.
At the bottom was eternal
The Wall Street Journal
Editorial Page.

Brown Paper and a Spoon

The greatest toy that ever was
Brown paper and a spoon
On the floor lurking in

The messy living room

It takes no AA batteries

It has no on-off switch

It's endless fun and scratches

The ever playful itch

For minutes or an hour

Playing hide and seek
Wiggle butt and flying claws

What furry lightning streak

Hunts the kitchen ware

Like brave dragon slayers

Underneath and in between

The crinkled paper layers

Until the deadly pounce

At long last is made

Sent to meet it's maker

Long handle Rubbermaid

Victory now it's time to rest

The hunt is at an end
But woe to serving spoons
That pass this way again

To a Black Cat

Twinkle twinkle little black

Panther in my home

How you shine in morning’s light

Where the sunbeams roam

Twinkle twinkle coiled spring

My ankles catch your eye

Waiting for attack

As I'm walking by

Twinkle twinkle twelve o’clock

At the window sill

Your steely eyes watching

Quiet stealthy still

Twinkle twinkle afternoon

Sleeping in repose

Twitching eyes and whiskers

Galloping little toes

Twinkle twinkle late at night

The day is growing old

Blending into shadows

Two rings of glowing gold

Twinkle twinkle good luck charm

You ebony feline art

I’m glad you crossed my path

I love you cross my heart