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Cutie Pie Cat

The pink-nosed face of Prospero my cat,
Pink nose and white fur face, is what he rubs
Against me, purring.  He does not know that
I love him since he’s cute.  My finger scrubs
His whiskers and his ears because I think
He likes that kind of love.  What he wants, though,
Is spreading of his pheromonal stink
On me thus marking me as his.  A glow
Of cat smell on me is his goal.  His eyes
Shut tight his bliss.  This makes him yet more dear
To me.  This fact would bring him no surprise
While keeping up his purr hormonal smear.
_Forget the fact that last night in my house
__He bloodied up my floor with cute, mute Mouse.

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Matthew Parris

Perhaps you have a favorite columnist
Who writes with wit and cleverness about
The news.  I do.  For years he hasn’t missed
The most important points.  He lays them out
As clearly as a Franklin or a Paine.
The column’s sense is balanced in a way
I doubt that I could manage and his main
Points always please me, saying Yea or Nay
Exactly where he should.  Just once or twice
I’ve disagreed with him, but then I think
There must be something wrong with me.  Concise
And fun he makes my shallow musings stink.
_The only times he ever almost fails
__Are when his humor doesn’t tip the scales.

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Phillip Whidden is an American living in England who has been published in America, England, Scotland (and elsewhere) in book form, online, and in journals. 

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6 Responses

  1. Paul A. Freeman

    Cute kitty poem, and an interesting sonnet on Matthew Parrish, which sent me to the Spectator to read his article about AI. It indeed lived up to being humorous and informative.

    Thanks for the reads.

    Reply
    • Phillip Whidden

      Paul A Freeman, Thanks for reading about Prospero and praising the poem. I’m very glad I helped connect you to Matthew Parris. Amen. I used to go several times a week to the British Library and wrote sonnets there in the Rare Books and Music Room. Today I will go to my own local library and write poems. I’m pleased with you…and thank YOU for reading.

      Reply
  2. Margaret Coats

    Phillip, from the picture and your title, one would expect “Cutie Pie Cat” to be a sentimental if not downright silly cat poem. Instead you present an acute understanding of pet reality, combined nonetheless with affection for Prospero.

    The sonnet on Matthew Parris describes the main desiderata of a professional commentator: good analysis, wit, and a dash of humor. I’m impressed by Parris just because you took time and trouble to commend him in these lines.

    Reply
    • Phillip Whidden

      Margaret Coats, Yep, that cat poem is a rounded view of “owning” a cat. Prospero is a no holds barred feline. If a person is a cat lover, s/he will love Prospero. Otherwise not. You are right about Matthew Parris. George F. Will is a force of the universe though he doesn’t dally with humor.

      Reply
  3. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Phillip, you capture the feral essence of feline perfectly in “Cutie Pie Cat” – an honorable poetic nod to Prospero – what a great name for a cat! I hope he’s a bibliophile with a dog-eared edition of “Of Mice and Men” beside his bed.

    Reply
    • Phillip Whidden

      Susan Jarvis Bryant, I totally love the humor and good humor of your reply. Thank you. And thank you for responding so intelligently to the sonnet. I wanted him, magical as he is in my eyes, to have a name from the Shakespeare canon. Prospero seemed to fit. I liked the irony of “dog-eared.”

      Reply

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