One Fine Day

Note: I wrote this on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day last year -- a triply historic holiday.

On MLK Day,
inauguration day,
on the day
that a gay
Cuban-American poet
read a poem
to America,
I am moved
to tears
in the sunlight
of my study,
thankful
for the sunshine,
my books, and
the partner
our dog, cat and I
await, who will
join us after work
on this fine day.

Poetry: Alive and swell

My latest piece for The Space Between, "One Giant Step for Humankind," was posted today, featuring my brand new poem "One Fine Day."  I wrote the poem the day before Alexandra Petri's provocative piece "Is poetry dead?" was published.  Unbeknownst to me, my poem was written in direct contrast to Petri's controversial post, an applicable commentary of my own.  Poetry begot poetry!  Take a look for yourself.  Heck, draft a rebuttal to Petri's pondering, if you feel so inclined!

My on-Again, off-Again Bedside Companion

She doesn't like to cuddle
or be held.
She likes to be in control,
to call the shots.
She comes
when she's ready.
She comes
to get what she wants
and leave.
And she practices the most
peculiar positions.
She often prefers to rest her head
near my hips
and press herself against me,
begging to be stroked.
When I pet her in just
the right places,
she purrs with pleasure
and lets me know,
in no uncertain terms,
that she's glad to be
my pussycat.

(Christmas cat)

Christmas cat –
bedside greeting
begins with a pounce

(kitty for keeps)

kitty for keeps:
quiet, self-cleaning,
committed companion

© Amy E. Hall 2008

Between Catnaps

Her silky, black paw
claimed a red circle
on the pillow
as if to begin
a silent, solo
game of Twister.

© Amy E. Hall 2007

(cat dusty)

cat dusty
from her romp
in the windowsill

© Amy E. Hall 2007

(cute)

cute:
a chirp from
my happy cat

© 2007 Amy E. Hall

My Girl

She knows how to be
cute.
She knows just the
right pose or look
to give me that will
send me into a
state of acute
appreciation --
the kind that seizes
me until I pet her velvet
coat.
She knows the cutest
ways to meow and
purr and stir her paws.

And she knows it.

She knows she's
cute.
And there's no way
I can help myself
from loving and
stroking and cooing
and thinking how
lucky I am to have
found her.

© 2007 Amy E. Hall

Acrocats

Cats can contort their
bodies in such curious
configurations. Whether
for bathing, hunting,
napping or recreational
purposes, they can be
seen in the most peculiar
forms. I am convinced
that cats would make
incredible gymnastic
competitors -- curvy,
little acrobats with keen
eyesight, magnificent
agility and nine lives apiece.

© 2006 Amy E. Hall

(cat in a frenzy)

cat in a frenzy:
from the window --
watching falling leaves

© 2006 Amy E. Hall

(the cat)

the cat --
my second
alarm clock

© 2006 Amy E. Hall

My Angel

Every morning, I look
at my baby --
so soft; so sweet.
She catches a catnap
while I dress and
style my hair.
Her cuteness compels
me to stop what I'm
doing several times
during my morning
routine to come by
her side, speak
to her in gentle tones
and touch her tummy.
Her silky, black fur
is softer than any
human baby's skin.

© 2006 Amy E. Hall