Keep Focusing On the Good Things, Mommy

Keep focusing on the good things, Mommy,
focus on me-- 


months ago I sang the same song 
to lull you to sleep 
while you had bad dreams,
the human world big and terrible
and cold and mean 


Focus on the good things, Mommy,
focus on me--
my little pink toes in the sunshine, 
radiant whiskered reverie 


Focus on the good things, Mommy, 
focus on me--
my morning mews and tiny face
ready to smile and sing 


Focus on the good things, Mommy,
focus on me--
running close behind you
diving into sunbeams 

It's hard outside 
but we can be happy here
you and me


Focus on the good things, Mommy,
focus on me--


Keep focusing on the good things, Mommy--
Keep focusing on me

I'll sing for you
until it's safe  

to dream

December 1, 2020 0

I Was a Pumpkin for Halloween

Mama keeps me close on Halloween

The night when ghouls grow cold and mean

And things are not how they should seem

I’m Mama’s boy on Halloween

She has pumpkins one, two, and three,

But the cold outdoors is not for me

I stay warm on Mama’s knees

Safe inside on Halloween

I’m her pumpkin on Halloween

As the witches dance and werewolves sing

She keeps me close so I can dream

Of caramel cake and pretty things

I’m a pumpkin cat on Halloween

November 1, 2020 0

Pumpkin Cat

Two little pumpkins

In an autumn wind

One tall and quiet

One with a grin

A soft little voice

When one of them moves

Shake of a tail

A welcome home mew

Welcome bright colors

And cold frosty nights

An autumn of fun

With best friends at your side

October 1, 2020 0

Hungry Cat Haiku, Part 2

scv_15728142850954985784425621689581 — photo by Clarabelle Fields

tile floor, bowl is empty

seconds pass in torment

as human watches, cold

two minutes, she says

my desperation rises

I am skin and bone

I have to survive

starvation imminent

kibble comes at dawn

September 1, 2020 0

The Fairy Tail Cat

The ancients sang

of fairy tales,

dancing folk and wild spells

and mythic dreams

not meant to tell

on moonlit nights

in circle rounds

the fairy king

I think I’ve found–

little feet upon the ground

paw pads four, fire crown

“tiger, tiger burning bright”

the fairy king is out tonight

with fireflies and fairy flight

he dances softly in disguise:

he disappears to mortal eyes

dancing beneath the summer sky

but a cat among the clover lies

a secret king with head held high

a fairy king who never dies

I see him dancing in the night

August 1, 2020 0

The Domus Juliana (House of Julius)

juliusmoving2 — photo by Clarabelle Fields

Momma knows her Latin well:

poems, history, evil spells

and places where emperors used to dwell

fancy homes of which she likes to tell

One of mine, she says, I’ll be calling home

a royal palace, a regal dome

with marble walls and gardens to roam

an imperial palace of my very own

There will be birds and sunlight and silken beds

and soft warm spots to set my head

servants will heed my beck and call

as emperor, I’ll rule them all

But there’s a journey first, a ride afar

I hate the carrier, loathe the car

I’ll scream until Momma’s seeing stars–

until we’re there: au revoir, revoir!

July 1, 2020 0

The Rainbow Blankie

I love my rainbow blankie–

it wasn’t mine, originally,

but that didn’t matter:

Momma finished it for me,

and now I am the owner

of her rainbow blankie.

It’s a blankie like no other–

rainbow wool and fleece

and bits of handmade memories:

a scarf, a sock, a sweater sleeve,

remnants of nights

spent by Momma’s knee

as she worked magic on

a blankie just for me

(unknowingly).

It smells like her, and now like me,

where I revel in rainbow dreams

and whiskered tuna reveries

where I chase mice and birds

across imaginary fields and streams.

I love my rainbow fleece,

my rainbow dreams,

the blankie Momma made just for me.

All for me, just for me.

June 1, 2020 0

Focus On The Good Things, Mommy

Focus on the good things, Mommy,

focus on me, when you’re tired and

never want to leave this bed again,

crying about things I don’t understand,

heavy human words that fly over my head

Focus on the good things, Mommy,

focus on me, the little warm

bundle in your lap, on your heart

purring remedies into your bones

listening with poised ears to your breaths

coming longer, quieter, calmer,

as we settle down into snuggles

Focus on the good things, Mommy,

focus on me, my little face gazing up at you,

radiant, whisker-framed,

my paws and pink toe beans,

my tail tucked in so perfectly

Focus on the good things, Mommy,

focus on me–

the little soul that follows

you every night, every step

to snuggle close and purr

until you smile again

Focus on the good things, Mommy,

focus on me, and sleep well,

knowing that I am here

and I love you

April 1, 2020 0

Cattitudes

life’s too short not to try to have fun

to scamper at midnight

and lounge in the sun

dreaming of birds

and a great hunting plain

zebras and lions and me in a mane

I’m a king, I’m a god,

there’s nobody better

if you have a complaint,

go mail me a letter

I’m not gonna read it

not even a word

I’ll shred it and eat it and make it a turd

too many things,

too many happenings

I’m busy, you see,

eating and napping

and playing and scratching

and snuggling and running

chaos and crazy, just how I like it

if life doesn’t work, it’s simple–just bite it

too busy to stop

too busy to care

I’m a cat, after all,

I’m proud everywhere

I do what I do

and I’m good at it all

I’m a cat and I’m proud

my tail standing tall

March 1, 2020 0

Angel In My Bed (A Cat Poem)

on darker nights

seeped in cold

I sleep well knowing

I am not alone

I hear the door,

the quiet creak,

the lighting weight

of little feet

padded paws,

a little nose

cold and soft,

tiny toes

kneading me

and nuzzling fleece

purring calm,

purring peace-

filled remedies to every ill

quiet breaths

long and still

a warmth that falls

through open arms

to settle down

on blankets and yarn

a tiny tum, a little head

smiling, snuggling

in my bed

and we drift along

in cozy night

snuggled close,

holding tight

paws on chest

chin on cheek

my angel is perfect

soft and sweet

my little boy,

my little one

someone to hug

someone to love

through the nights

cold and deep

hugging close

in quiet sleep

there’s an angel

in my bed

comfort for

the road ahead

February 1, 2020 2