I’m still trying to stay on top of everything, but last week kicked me in the behind. If only I could clone myself. I used to like that movie Multiplicity where the man is cloned several times. Remember that? It wasn’t a great movie or a popular one, but Michael Keaton is one of my favorite actors. I am always hoping to clone myself, but that unlike the Keaton character in the movie, I can control the clones–perhaps even operate their brains ;).
Not only did I have a jam-packed week, but a lot of little stuff went wrong. My anxiety level increased as the stress did. I’m wondering if this anxiety is a byproduct of The Artist’s Way program. So far I’ve gotten some advice from a TAW Facebook group. We’ll see how it goes.
But I am happy to report that I snagged a 2020 publication this week.
Still, if only I could learn from my cats that time pools up between our paws when we let it do so. If we’re chasing after it, we’ll never catch it.
How’s about this Marge Piercy cat poem?
THE CAT’S SONG
Mine, says the cat, putting out his paw of darkness.My lover, my friend, my slave, my toy, saysthe cat making on your chest his gesture of drawingmilk from his mother’s forgotten breasts.*Let us walk in the woods, says the cat.I’ll teach you to read the tabloid of scents,to fade into shadow, wait like a trap, to hunt.Now I lay this plump warm mouse on your mat.*You feed me, I try to feed you, we are friends,says the cat, although I am more equal than you.Can you leap twenty times the height of your body?Can you run up and down trees? Jump between roofs?*Let us rub our bodies together and talk of touch.My emotions are pure as salt crystals and as hard.My lusts glow like my eyes. I sing to you in the morningswalking round and round your bed and into your face.*Come I will teach you to dance as naturallyas falling asleep and waking and stretching long, long.I speak greed with my paws and fear with my whiskers.Envy lashes my tail. Love speaks me entire, a word*of fur. I will teach you to be still as an eggand to slip like the ghost of wind through the grass.
Aww, kitty, you look anxious to “get right on it” but we know you will get all on your list, done.
That’s my sweet and naughty boy Perry!
This coming week will be like your last week. Too many appointments, too many decisions. Love the cat poem. My cats only get stressed when the travel carrier comes out. 🙂
Ugh, no! I know–that cat poem is amazing.
Very often when I bring Tiger to her carrier she pees all over me :/.
I’ve had a couple of older cats who peed in the carrier on the way over. I always line it with a towel and have an extra along. Fortunately no one has peed on me.
Yes, you are fortunate! I always bring an extra towel for Tiger. Just Tiger. And sometimes she only dribbles on me, but sometimes it’s full blast all down my front :(.
May this week be easier.
I sure hope so. Thanks, Derrick. Hope you have a good one, too!
Sorry you had a rough week. Hope this one goes better.
Thank you so much, VJ! I sure hope it does. You have a good one!
Oh gosh–that is a beautiful poem. Thank you, Luanne!
I hope your anxiety and stress levels go down this week. I know you know to take some time to pet a cat or 2 or 3. . . Try to purr. 🙂
I definitely know how to take some time to pet some cats :). Perry has been naughty which is adding stress and anxiety. He needs a kitten to play with, but the gardener has decided to assert his rights in the matter.
I love that poem!!!!
Have a great week, Merril!
🙂
What a wonderful poem. I hope this week is a little easier for you, Luanne. Congrats on the 2020 publication!
Thank you so much, Jill! I hope you have a good week. You and your mom looked so beautiful together in that photo.
Yes, it’s a wonderful poem that really gets to the heart of life with a cat.
Aw…thank you, Luanne. ❤️
Congratulations on the 2020 publish. Rough weeks show us how good calm weeks are. I hope this is a calm one.
Thank you, John! I hope it is for you, too! 🙂
I love that poem, Luanne. I wanted to tear my eyes away to look at the cat picture but I was hanging on every word. Had to read that poem first. Having had cats for years, I could relate to their behaviours, described so well in your poem. Great job! And congrats on yet another publication.
I wish I could take credit for the poem! It’s by Marge Piercy. It’s AMAZING. It’s so perfectly about a cat and her point of view!!!
Thanks, Anneli. That is my baby Perry in the pic ;). He’s so naughty . . . .
You did say that! Sorry. You write so many nice poems that I glossed over that info in my rush to get to the poem and assumed it was yet another of your masterpieces. 😉 It could easily have been yours.
🤣🤣🤣
That sure is a fabulous poem and Perry is pretty fab too! I learned a long time ago that allowing anxiety to rise in me was (to quote a quote attributed to many great beings) like drinking poison and expecting my enemies to die. I was so shocked at the thought I gave up on holding onto those unbidden feelings of anger, anxiety and other negatives. I do hope your days become calmer and you become the queen of serene xoxo
Hehe, he is fab!!! And I love the poem. Yes, I would love to be serene. At least I pop back pretty good. Like a children’s toy that you knock over and it springs back up hahahaha. I am debating changing out some of the Artist’s Way morning pages with meditation instead. Stay tuned ;). Thanks, Pauline xo.
I love the poem and am familiar with Marge Piercy. 🙂 Sorry you’re having a tough time, here’s something to cheer you up:
https://youtu.be/cUDVa69I_Hc
Val, I can’t open that link for some reason! I tried to find it, but maybe something is missing? Piercy is a Renaissance writer, I think, excellent in many genres. Hope you are happy to be back blogging :)!
Try this (copy and paste it into your browser but remove the spaces first):
https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=cUDVa69I_Hc
Damn, it’s not formatting properly! I’ll email it to you.
Thanks, Val. I see your email! I’ve been out of town and just got back.
A lovely poem, Luanne. Take care of yourself – it’s that time of year when stress levels zoom upward. Hugs from South Carolina
Yes, it’s not a good time of year to do The Artist’s Way hahaha. Hugs back atcha, Sheila!!! You take care of yourself, too.
I’m sorry you had a difficult week last week. I do hope this one is better. I love that cat poem!
Thank you, Clare. It is better. Not fabulous, but then I have something to look forward to–must be something fabulous coming down the road ;). I love the poem, too!
One of the best poems I think I have ever read!
It’s so perfect!
Congratulations on your upcoming publication! Love the cat poem. Piercy definitely knows cats 😉 Hope this week (and all subsequent weeks) is easier on you ❤️
Thanks, Marie. I had a walk today so that was a little nice! Hope you are well!
Congratulations on your publication Luanne. That’s a brilliant cat poem!
I know!!!! I’m so glad I found it! Thank you btw!
OMG, wow, what a gorgeous poem!!!
I think so, too!!!! She really understands cats!
I’m feeling your anxiety here, Luanne. I could write a book (and probably will) on how anxiety debilitates and erodes your body. Don’t take it lightly. Breathe A LOT! Long, slow, deep breaths. I hope things settle down but most times, you just exchange things to stress over. Cats are good examples of not stressing but any cat under stress gets ill too. Do please take gentle care of yourself. Great poem.
You are so right, and thank you for your wise words. I will try to do that regularly. Stress is so dangerous.
Such a tasty poem and so true, especially the “more equal” part. Congrats on your 2020 publication, and may your anxiety morph to contentment.
The “more equal” part really amuses me because it’s the way people, both fur and human, tend to think, although it of course makes no sense. Thank you very much!!!
I completely understand your yearning for a clone – I want one, too! Love the cat poem and congratulations on your upcoming publication on 2020.
Haha, or else we need special clocks that move more slowly! Thank you re the publication. I LOVE the poem!!! Piercy really understands cats!
Yes – reminds me of T.S. Eliot’s cat poems, which also capture that distainful feline quality:))
I love those poems, too!
Fabulous poem! Congratulations on your upcoming publication. Wishing you some peaceful moments in this busy season! 🙂
I agree–what an amazing poem! Thank you so much for your congrats and your wish! I so hope so!
🙂 🙂 🙂
LOVE the cat poem. TY!
Me too!!!
Such an interesting question about TAW and anxiety. I hope the Facebook support group helps, which is also a very interesting resource to have.
I couldn’t go to my in person group this month darn.
I understand completely! You see how far behind I am with everything. 😬 congratulations on the publication. I love dear Perry, and Piercy’s poem. LMK if you figure the cloning thing out. 🙋🏼♀️
Still working on the cloning …. I am so behind!
Congratulations on your publication. <3. And, that is a very beautiful poem and a beautiful cat! Enjoyable post. 🙂
Thank you, Carol! XO
Congratulations, Luanne! Love the photo of the cat too. 🙂
Thank you!!!!