More Mousetraps Without Cheese

CRAZY CAT
—Ann Wehrman, Sacramento

I pad across the room,
nudge your shoulder,
butt my head against your
lonely, frozen countenance

the late clock strikes—
you've forgotten time

I sidle seductively along your shin,
raise sparks against
your ancient silk pajamas,
watch you
through fierce, hot slits

growl my invitation
to race together
over the ceiling, around and round,
through imaginary forests,
to Neptune, Pluto, and beyond
then to nap,
me nestled
in the crook of your arm

_______________________

A COMIC LOVE POEM
—Ann Wehrman, Sacramento

You're not my cat—
you're my landlady's cat,
and she's not home
gone again, overnight...
she'll be back, really,
don't keep crying,
you're overwrought.

You sound like a mountain lion,
a giant, fantasy Siamese,
crying, crying,
scratching at my door.
I know she lets you
sleep with her—
but I WON'T.

Alright, alright,
I'm coming out,
let's talk it over—
it's 3:00 am, go to sleep,
it's ok, she'll be back,
really...

________________________

CAT'S MEOW
—Patricia A. Pashby, Sacramento

Bongo, Puff, Simone,
all names for this senior cat.
She answers to none.

Strange cat pays a call,
greeted with battle cry howls.
Hose declared winner.

Purring kitty smiles—
comfy on a welcome lap.
Beware of love bites.

Late night life or death.
Victim squeaks, cat triumphant.
Mousetrap without cheese.

________________________

A KITTEN NAMED ASHES
—Patricia A. Pashby, Sacramento

silent
stalker
marauder cat
ears down back arched
camouflaged by tall grass
tiny paw suspended
quivering jungle prowler waits
lunges pounces birds skedaddle
no prey
today

________________________

Thanks, Ann and Pat! Send me a cat poem of yours before midnight on May 31 (that's tomorrow!), previously published or not, and I’ll send you a free copy of Song Kowbell’s new rattlechap, Lick Your Wounds and Want Again. Or, if you have that one, I’ll send you something else. E-mail your poems to kathykieth@hotmail.com.

And my apologies to Jane Blue; I left off the wonderful last line of her poem yesterday ("She has branded me with her wildness") in the first edition of Medusa. I fixed it at about 11 a.m., but maybe you read the wrong version.......

—Medusa

Medusa encourages poets of all ilk and ages to send their poetry and announcements of Northern California poetry events to kathykieth@hotmail.com for posting on this daily Snake blog. Rights remain with the poets. Previously-published poems are okay for Medusa’s Kitchen, as long as you own the rights. (Please cite publication.)