Last week I took both of my grandsons to a local farm. See this post. They were cautiously curious. While we walked around, multiple young cats circled and rubbed up against us. Leo has a cat at home, but I think this was his first experience with this gentle, yet intrusive cat behavior. I found this photo in my phone and made it black and white. Don’t you love how you can do that with a slide of your finger?
I don’t want to touch you.
Margaret Simon, draft
Would you please go away?
Your gentle mew
invites me.
Can we be friends?
Write your own small poem in the comments and please come back to read and comment on other writers. Happy Summer!
Reflections on the Teche 
Awwww. What a sweet moment caught on your camera. I love when children observe and show a natural respect. The cat seems to be letting your grandson know, it’s OK. I’m a pet–pet me.
There goes the kitty
Where is the kitty?
Oh, HERE kitty, kitty
next to me
Tigers on my shirt
Tiger comes to see
purring up close
next to me
Kitty brushes past
kitty likes me
This kitty kitty
next to me
Great voice in this poem, Linda. I like how you pulled in the tiger on Leo’s shirt.
Love this repetitive verse. I want to read it aloud to Leo.
Lovely Linda, nice sense of rhythm in your quatrains, and happy to see “Tiger” in there too!
Yes, Linda. Such a sweet voice in your poem. I’m sure Leo will smile when he hears Mamoo read it to him.
Linda, I love your repetition and rhyme.
Just look forward to the gorgeous pictures and the reflections and verse that follow them.
Such a sweet picture, Margaret. I loved the sound of your words “cautiously curious” so I borrowed them for my poem.
Friends
A gentle rub,
A maybe touch,
Both cautiously curious—
Destined to be friends.
Love “maybe touch”.
maybe touch is perfect!
I like the careful caution in your poem Rose, and friends awaiting.
Rose, I like the tentative friendship building slowly. You have captured the photo beautifully in your words.
I love how you build up the tension to “Destined to be friends.”
Friendly Kitty’s attributes
Kitty claws on tiny paws
Look! Tiger claws on dino boots!
Kitty stripes on feline types
Look! My big tiger shirt salutes!
Oh, my! I have spent enough time on this silly draft! 😉 I have enjoyed so much looking at Leo’s sweet picture, though. Thanks for the challenge, Margaret. I love the pic in black and white, and the fun description about the cats at the farm. I like how your poem shows his hesitancy in befriending this new cat.
Yay for spending too much time on a playful draft! The rhymes are great! Did you have to use rhymezone? I often turn to this resource when playing with a draft. Thanks!
Yes, I did. Could I write anything without Rhymezone and Thesaurus?
Love your line play back and forth between Kitty attributes and Leo’s tiger connection!
Isn’t summer great? You CAN spend a little extra time on a draft for funsies. Wonderful! I loved those little dino boots too.
Denise, your poem is so much fun! I love your rhymes, repetition, and your inclusion of the “claws on dino boots!” and “big tiger shirt salutes!” I never knew about rhymezone until last week. I bought a rhyming dictionary years ago, but I always forget about it. When I saw rhymezone I thought, WOW this is how everyone makes such great rhymes. It’s amazing!
Leo wears cat claws
on his boots.
Kitty sniffs,
swishes her tail,
then silently pads away.
Oh my heart–this picture is precious. (And now I’m looking above, and seeing that I am not the only one to be taken with those boots.)
Boots are a must for a bayou boy. Both boys have them and we will add to the collection as they grow bigger. You are so cute with “cat claws on his boots.” Thanks for playing along today.
Buffy, I love the attitude of the Kitty here. Just like a cat, isn’t he? Aloof and uncommitted.
Yep. Nothing is cuter than little boots! I know….that photo and memories of my little guys. My heart too!
Buffy, I love “cat claws on his boots” and all your /s/ alliteration and consonance sounds. I love seeing puddle boots on kids!
YOUNG CAT ENCOUNTER…
Tiger stands tall
though, not even
hip high and
brushes his
curved back by my
wondering thigh…
Your image takes one’s breath away with intrigue and wonder, and I want to know what’s next… I like the invitation your poem offers Margaret!
The word ‘wondering’ makes your poem extra special. Love it.
Wow, Michelle, I love his boldness, yet not even “hip high” and “my wondering thigh” is magical.
Michelle, great poem! I love Leo’s rhyming voice here especially in “Tiger stands tall,” “not even hip high,” and “my wondering thigh…” I thought, oh my, that cat almost comes to Leo’s hip.
Margaret, I love this precious photo of Leo looking at the cat rubbing his leg. I immediately thought of the cat’s voice. Then, I thought what is Leo thinking. I love Leo’s voice in your poem and how his caution finally submits to the cat’s affection. I am happy Leo has a cat to have a special bond with. I have had cats as pets since I was four years old. Presently, we have two cats and one looks like the cat in the pic.
Pet me. Pet me.
I am a tigress
I am a huntress.
Pet me. Pet me.
I will not hurt you.
I will purr for you.
Pet me! Pet me!
Gail Aldous
Oh, yes, that tigress needing affection! Hoping to win it from the toddler with her persistence. Super sweet poem about this photo, Gail.
It’s one thing
to wear tigers on your shirt
and claws on your rain boots
but it’s quite another thing
when a hip-high tiger
threatens you with purring affection.
(GREAT picture!!)
Oh, you have captured this photo with your sweet poem, Mary Lee! I think it’s my favorite and what I saw in the photo too. “threatens…purring affection” lovely dichotomy!