Mancat Monday, Bad Boys and Holiday Haiku
Woo hoo and you hoo, cat lovers, Merlin here. We’re taking most of the week off but will pop in here and there with a few goodies. After a freakishly warm weekend, all our snow melted. It was warm enough for the peeps to have coffee on the porch and the rest of us lollygagged in the garden dreaming of a white Christmas NOT.
I could not believe my eyes or nose. The frozen ground melted into a juicy, spring-like scent-fest. It inspired Layla to share some poetry from 18th C. haiku master Issa but hey, who are you calling old?
If you ever feel blue, he’s a joy. Reading how he triumphed over tragedy, a nasty step-mother and poverty will stop any pity party in its tracks.
And did you know the boozing, bad boy poet Bukowski loved cats? The old curmudgeon who knew the blues only too well, had a soft spot for cats. The holidays are upon us and if you need some courage or strength take heart. This photo quote has stanza from one of my favorite cat poems. Enjoy!
My Cats
I know. I know.
they are limited, have different
needs and concerns.
but I watch and learn from them.
I like the little they know,
which is so
much.
they complain but never
worry,
they walk with a surprising dignity.
they sleep with a direct simplicity that
humans just can’t
understand.
their eyes are more
beautiful than our eyes.
and they can sleep 20 hours
a day
without
hesitation or
remorse.
when I am feeling
low
all I have to do is
watch my cats
and my
courage
returns.
I study these
creatures.
they are my
teachers.
~Charles Bukowski
37 Comments
domain
Do you have any video of that? I’d want to find out more details.
Katnip Lounge
Meowy Catmas!
Eat (ham) drink (cream) and Sniff Nip!!
Love, The Katnip Lounge Kats and Mommy Trish
meowmeowmans
Love the poems and the lovely photos. Enjoy your well-deserved week off, Layla.
Merry Christmas to you, dear friends! We love you!
maggie
Lovely poems, quotes and photographs. Your work is a gift to all cat lovers!
Wishing you a peaceful, healthy, and sweet holiday.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Maggie, thank-you so much! Sending you warmest holidays purrs.
Skeeter and Izzy
The poem and haiku are beautiful just like the cats that inspired them both.
We hope everyone has a wonderful what ever they celebrate even if it is only their cats. My internet was down Monday so we are late getting here and it is Catmus Eve now. Santa Paws comes tonight!!!!!!
We hope everyone feels the blessing of Love,Peace,Hope and Joy not only now but everyday to come.
Mewy Catmus and Happy Mew Year to all!!!!
Luvs Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang (Poppy,Shadow, Sunny and Tiger) Peanut and Twig and Romeo >^..^< MEWY CATSMUS!!!!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Bah humbug to your naughty Internet. Glad it’s up in time for Santa’s visit. Meowy catmas purrs to you and the whole family!
Coccolino
Wonderful poem. We’ve been thinking of you and we are very glad to hear you are taking much of the week off. Relax and enjoy! xo
Layla Morgan Wilde
I wish I was having a holiday! Taking some time off from blogging is not a vacation. I’m working extra hard getting book writing done but will squeeze in some peace and joy 😉
Angel Abby
We have the warms here too but it should get coolers we hope you all enjoy your Holidays with peace and joy.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks dear ones. We’ll be thinking of you!
Cathy Keisha
Great verse and so true! After it was 70 yesterday, we may get a dusting of snow tomorrow. No wonder TW is coughing and sneezing and all germy.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Sending healing Purrrrrrrs
Beverly
Any poetry with cats is good.
da tabbies o trout towne
guys. we bee ona pos dee vize two day N with de lightnin fast speed oh internetz???? we wanted ta say merry christmas bee fore easter getz heere!!!!!!!
Layla Morgan Wilde
Meowy Catmas to all da tabbies!
Sue Brandes
Wonderful post. We had 6 inches or so of snow Sunday and about 24. Sure was pretty. Going to be really cold today.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thanks Sue. Lucky you having a white Christmas!
Tamago
That’s a great poem! We had warm weekend, too, but with pouring rain.
Finally it stopped but still bit cloudy. Glad you enjoyed outside. We wish you a very happy Christmas!!
Layla Morgan Wilde
We heard you were under the weather and send extra healing purrs.
Flynn
That is a lovely poem. Mild here too, but we are having day after day of torrential rain and gales.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Oddly enough same here across the pond. No happy hunting!
Matt - Lightroom Presets
In Australia we are in the middle of yet another heat wave. Trade places?
Brian Frum
Merry Christmas sweet friends! We too enjoyed the wonderful poem.
Viki Worden
I enjoyed the poem. It was very nice. Merlin I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ahead! We had the same weather here in NY. We may get some snow for Christmas though.
Layla Morgan Wilde
Thank-you Vicky. Merlin sends merry Christmas purrs to you!
Crepes
I really like that…. “my courage returned.” I think that’s a great thing to remember! Merry Christmas and thank you for the wonderful post! -Alana and Crepes.
Fuzzy Tales
What a great post, we love both the haiku and poem.
And we’d like to wish you all a wonderful holiday and merry Christmas now, in case our power does go off with the ice storm aftermath. Take care!
Purrs and peace,
Nicki and Derry
The Island Cats
It’s nice that us cats have proven to be a muse to many a poet. We love that poem. 🙂
Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal
What a lovely poem <3
Happy Monday to you !
XOXO
Sammy
Bukowski certainly did know his stuff when it came to expressing “all things cat”…..they are simple yet complicated creatures who manage to squeeze so much joy out of the brief periods they are awake in a 24 hour period! I love that…..I admire that…..and I do think that we can learn much from them if we just “tune in” – I’m glad you all got the “Spring/Winter” weather we had – strange but nice. Please enjoy your break – Sam and I are wishing that you have a beautiful and special Christmas.
Hugs, Pam and Sam
Cathy M
I love these lines:
when I am feeling
low
all I have to do is
watch my cats
and my
courage
returns.
Always works for me..love my Dulce and Gabby
Sparkle
Bukowski a bad boy? In my human’s world, he is just business as usual. 😉
Cherry City Kitties
How cool is that poem! I did not know he was a “cat guy”, but hey, all the good ones are!
Layla Morgan Wilde
I agree all the great men are cat men!
Kathryn
Bukowski rocks and so do you and your cats.
Montreal snowed for a week, my sister tells me.
Lucky for us, we’re not there!
Merry Merry Christmas!
Layla Morgan Wilde
I’ll say! I don’t miss Montreal cold and snow. Merry merry!