This Poem was Submitted By: Regis L Chapman On Date: 2004-06-03 13:21:28 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!To Listen to Music While Reading this Poem, just Click Here!
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Return to Reeow years of living with a mama kitty
whose nature left us sundering
with self prattle and pity, wondering
what swishes of that tattle tail meant
the straightest sign we had, bent
on emotional plundering
even when the tail was straight up
it looked like a question mark
with her latest asshole marking
the dot at the bottom
she left with a lark between her teeth
named Mark
returning with a robin or a Rob
of some sort
her underneath
she was never with us at all
but left some dry cat food
and was always just... debarking
in some distant away
port of mood
maybe that was just me-
lost myself, in infinite imaginations
there was never any begging
I kept feeling fascinations
through the 1980s with Reagan
prepared to kill us all
from grace, then
nothing prepared me for his fall
from grace, when
fate just fell on it's foolish face
and mama kitty still wanders
the alleys for a nap
no longer giving litters
with a silent wail
and I roam my imagination
setting silent sail
and my temporary fascinations
that burn away
here tomorrow, gone today
searching for my mother
in her flying eyes
that turn away |
|
Copyright © June 2004 Regis L Chapman
Additional Notes:
My apologies to my mother here, but something I felt I had to submit about my childhood and those feelings. I reconciled these subjects long ago, but still they sometimes come up and so I am posting them to see what you all think.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Mark Steven Scheffer On Date: 2004-07-02 10:51:18
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.08333
Reeg,
It's interesting that you insert Reagan and a wider context into this very personal poem. Just interesting to me. Anyway, I came; I saw: I read. I am loath to comment on the substance of it. Again, very personal.
Peace,
Mark
This Poem was Critiqued By: Karen Ann Jacobs On Date: 2004-06-21 20:43:19
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
I finished this poem feeling confused. I read it again and this time I read your notes. Yep, confusion and pain mixed with a little anger. There are some things we just never get over. We live with them, but they are a part of us. I don't believe in forgetting as long as the memories don't keep us from living. I understand the emotions of this poem and I'm glad they are in your past. Kay-ren
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2004-06-14 18:08:45
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.80000
Hi Reeg,
WOW this is a forceful poem...I have to admit without your post script I would have
completely missed the comparison of your mom to a kitten. The second time I read it,
however, I felt compelled to read it for a third time. I find it well written and also
feel some pathos in the words...regrets of events during your childhood years....I too
have some of those emotions so can relate to desire to write this piece. But don't feel
bad for writing your feelings down..that is a good thing. I wonder what happened to your
father because it seems you were neglected by your mother...maybe not everyday but
neglected just same. I am very impressed with your word choices and the form you used to
write this piece. It is both passionate and compassionate and written from your heart
which is the mark of a talented poet.
Peace...Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Wayne R. Leach On Date: 2004-06-13 18:56:12
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.25000
Reeg, another remarkable contribution. The alliteration, rhyming, meter,aasonance and occasional enjambment make this such an enjoyable and easy read. I am happy that the issue[s] has/have been resolved. I am even more happy that you decided to share this with us. Write on, sir - in happiness and peace, if possible.
This Poem was Critiqued By: G. Donald Cribbs On Date: 2004-06-08 10:01:17
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Reeg,
Thank you for adding clarification in the Additional Notes section. You're sublety here would have confounded my brain from catching the deeper meanings here. Wow. Much more powerful now that I went back over this one for a reread. A very well written and compelling piece here.
I am humbled by how effortlessly you utilize the skill of end rhyme to add form and structure to this piece. Much more articulately, however, is the tone set by taking such a serious issue, the relationship with your mom growing up, and the "lighter" way of bringing it out with the imagery of a mother cat looking for her next jerk in a kind of alley cat fashion. No disrespect to your mom. Just understanding and relating to the way her choices affected you growing up.
A thought provoking and admirable piece. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Warm regards,
Don
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