—Poetry by Julie A. Dickson, Exeter, NH
—Public Domain Photos Courtesy of Julie Dickson
CATS LOVE ME
I’m a magnet
to cats.
I have the fur-
covered pant legs
to prove it;
no lame lint roller
could ever rid
me of embedded
various strands
of fur, yellow
from Odin, black
from Louie, white
and gray from Moose.
When I return home
my own two cats sniff,
inspect minuscule fibers;
who are these strange
invisible cats we smell
but cannot ever see?
Cats love me
except that one time
when I was seven;
a seal point Siamese
mother cat I knew
and even though I sat
quietly in a corner, just
watching the kittens
from across the room,
flew at me raging,
scratched at my legs
as I screamed, ran down
stairs, bleeding. I’ve never
since had a Siamese cat.
Usually, cats love me.
I’m a magnet
to cats.
I have the fur-
covered pant legs
to prove it;
no lame lint roller
could ever rid
me of embedded
various strands
of fur, yellow
from Odin, black
from Louie, white
and gray from Moose.
When I return home
my own two cats sniff,
inspect minuscule fibers;
who are these strange
invisible cats we smell
but cannot ever see?
Cats love me
except that one time
when I was seven;
a seal point Siamese
mother cat I knew
and even though I sat
quietly in a corner, just
watching the kittens
from across the room,
flew at me raging,
scratched at my legs
as I screamed, ran down
stairs, bleeding. I’ve never
since had a Siamese cat.
Usually, cats love me.
When I think
of your lingering kiss
your lips brushed mine in such a way
your essence stayed, although—like
something not quite seen, just out
of sight, even though you had been
not so long ago in my arms.
When I think
of your embrace
arms enveloped me, however brief
our time, your warmth stays with me
long after I am alone, eyes closed—
I recall your voice, though my empty
bed suggests you were never here.
of your lingering kiss
your lips brushed mine in such a way
your essence stayed, although—like
something not quite seen, just out
of sight, even though you had been
not so long ago in my arms.
When I think
of your embrace
arms enveloped me, however brief
our time, your warmth stays with me
long after I am alone, eyes closed—
I recall your voice, though my empty
bed suggests you were never here.
Have never
been loved like that
I said, someone
worshipping my feet
on ground, the sound
of love, like heartbeat
I’ve had love before,
shown to me, a caress,
loving look, but knew
another kind, was blind
to control, owned by you
Not the same
unconditional, it was not
I know this but too late
your intention, this attention;
love was not in my fate
been loved like that
I said, someone
worshipping my feet
on ground, the sound
of love, like heartbeat
I’ve had love before,
shown to me, a caress,
loving look, but knew
another kind, was blind
to control, owned by you
Not the same
unconditional, it was not
I know this but too late
your intention, this attention;
love was not in my fate
VENOMOUS
Toxic, her bite—
malevolent, her strike,
serpent strands outstretched
like arms, reaching, reaching
deadly invitation beseeching.
Unwary vessels follow his course
Poseidon, of course, was to blame,
Medusa, the beauty was his to claim
from the temple but her fate was doom;
Athena’s ire was complete, the stupidity
of seduction caused Medusa’s viridity,
snakes replaced long flowing hair.
Destined Gorgo to guard passage hence,
no chance to offer to Athena her penance;
vicious anger erupted in the temple,
until the day when her head, a blade did sever,
fearless captain’s trophy, alas his clever
action silenced Athena’s deadly wrath.
Medusa’s look of startlement, features frozen,
with lethal finality, Athena’s spell was broken.
Toxic, her bite—
malevolent, her strike,
serpent strands outstretched
like arms, reaching, reaching
deadly invitation beseeching.
Unwary vessels follow his course
Poseidon, of course, was to blame,
Medusa, the beauty was his to claim
from the temple but her fate was doom;
Athena’s ire was complete, the stupidity
of seduction caused Medusa’s viridity,
snakes replaced long flowing hair.
Destined Gorgo to guard passage hence,
no chance to offer to Athena her penance;
vicious anger erupted in the temple,
until the day when her head, a blade did sever,
fearless captain’s trophy, alas his clever
action silenced Athena’s deadly wrath.
Medusa’s look of startlement, features frozen,
with lethal finality, Athena’s spell was broken.
Today’s LittleNip:
MIRROR SADNESS
—Julie A. Dickson
When you hear the music play,
but only for awhile
let the forces carry you,
allowing just a smile.
Echoed voices answer
tomorrow’s dreams are mine,
yesterday is fading
the traces all unwind.
Wander through the courtyard
hear the silence wane
faces mirror sadness,
the suffering to claim.
____________________
Welcome back to the Kitchen, Julie Dickson, and thanks for the poems and the photos you found to go with them!
A note that today’s Capturing Wakamatsu workshop at Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville has been cancelled due to the weather; the next one will be on Sunday, April 23. Two other NorCal readings today, though: the Women and Non-Binary Poet’s Reading on Zoom at 2pm, and Poets Club of Lincoln at 3pm, this month with Avery London. Click UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS at the top of this column for details about these and other future poetry events in the NorCal area—and keep an eye on this link and on the Kitchen for happenings that might pop up during the week
Did you NorCal poets set your clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time? You’ll be ‘way late for the readings if you didn’t…
____________________
—Medusa
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
All you have to do is send poetry and/or
photos and artwork to
kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
