Following a writing prompt requiring the poet to pull words from a published book, I ended up with this poem. I wish I could remember which prompt I used–and how much I varied or not from it, but it was a couple of months ago. And these months have been full of work stress, so my memory looks moth-eaten.
The book I used was Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird, a popular “writing text.” The subtitle is “Some Instructions on Writing and Life,” and I would say that the instructions are more on point for life–and maybe that’s why it is so popular!
WHAT TO NAME A CAT
(in the voice of Anne Lamott)
Find God
Propmaster
On Loan
Crazy Clocks
Special Effects
This Effect
Ring True
One Door Shut
R&B
Therapy
God’s Home
Samuel Beckett
Dirty Feet
Tiny Word
Redemption
One Leaf
Wordsworth
Rumi
Personal Drama
Delusion
Gorgeous
Pure Radiance
Way to the Truth
Present Moment
Home
Each one of these names resonates for me with what cats mean to me. Gosh, that sounds like an essay assignment for fifth grade. A fun assignment!
Maybe you can find a name for your next cat from my list haha.
