Friday, October 30, 2020

SCRATCHing the Surface

Happy (almost) Halloween! 

Oh my gosh, Smidgey's a squash! (reluctantly)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life has been so scary for so long that the need for a Halloween Night Fright seems a bit redundant, doesn't it? 

So I decided to dedicate today's post to the wee furry friends often associated with Halloween: Black Cats. 

Specifically, my daughter Colleen's black cats: Odin (RIP), Thor, and Hela.

Odin

 

Thor

Hela (and Colleen)

And of course, Loki


 (Do you sense a theme with their names?)

Today's poem was inspired by my other daughter, Maureen's recent drawing of a black cat. She didn't really like the words on the official Inktober prompt list so she sought out the Unofficial Inktober prompt list and chose the word SCRATCH as the inspiration for this drawing:









Then my critique partner in the PAWC group (Poetry Across the World Critique group) and today's fabulous Poetry Friday host, Linda Baie, shared her terrific etheree poem with me - a form I hadn't tried. Again, I was inspired.  

(An etheree consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables.) 

Being "syllabically" challenged I used the website: syllablecounter.net to help me write my poem. Oh, and many thanks to Kathleen, another member of the PAWC group for her kind feedback.

Sleek

kitty

stealthily

slinks through grooves

scratching the surface

to record her own song:

a catty cacophonous

caterwaul with discordant tones

undercutting her subtle furtive

felinosis known as Cat Scratch Fever.

©2020, Bridget Magee. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Smidgey was jealous out of her gourd (see what I did there?) of all the kitty attention so she wanted to be a part of Maureen's impromptu Halloween costume...The Headless Horse(wo)man.


 

 

 

 

 

 




Bonus Treats: Two more reasons why I love the Biden/Harris ticket:

💖 Jill and Joe Biden share the same wedding anniversary as my Joe and I: June 17th! 

🎂 Kamala Harris and I share the same birthday: October 20th! 

Many, many more Poetry Friday treats can be found at Teacher Dance where the aforementioned lovely Linda is hosting a COVID safe Halloween celebration. Join us!





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26 comments:

  1. Linda BOctober 30, 2020 at 3:36 PM

    Much to celebrate here, dear Bridget, like the fact that you tried the etheree, syllable-wise - as far as I could count : ) & the rhythm makes it a wonderful read-aloud. Just try (or maybe you have) reading "catty cacophonous
    caterwaul" - super fun. I love seeing all your "grand cats" & Smidgey going along with the Halloween fun. Maureen's art is terrific, too! Enjoy Halloween even if it's not so much there, but you can still have chocolate!

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 1, 2020 at 1:46 PM

      Thank you, Linda! Yes, chocolate is always available here in Switzerland - whether it is Halloween or not! :)

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  2. jamaOctober 30, 2020 at 4:30 PM

    What a fun post -- such pretty black cats! None could be sleeker. The cat scratch poem is brilliant and of course I love Smidgey's costume (and the Headless Horsewoman is great)!

    Uncanny that you and Kamala share a birthday. Ahem, Joe and I share one too -- November 20! All the more reason to love them. :)

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 1, 2020 at 1:54 PM

      Thank you, Jama! Yay for another birthday twin connection! Here's hoping both you and JB enjoy best birthday ever this year. :)

      Delete
  3. michelle koganOctober 31, 2020 at 12:45 AM

    I love the ending of your etheree Bridget, "Cat Scratch Fever," is purrrfect! Such a fun post, beautiful drawing by your daughter, and looks like you're getting your fill of Halloween, and Smidgey too, thanks!

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 1, 2020 at 1:55 PM

      Thanks, Michelle! Smidgey is a good dog to put up with her people. :)

      Delete
  4. Buffy SilvermanOctober 31, 2020 at 4:26 AM

    A handsome group of furry friends! And I love the cacophonous caterwaul in your poem. Here's hoping your birthday twin/anniversary twins win in a landslide!

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  5. Carol VarsalonaOctober 31, 2020 at 4:38 AM

    Smidgey looks adorable. SMA had a dog costume sharing this week and Smidgey would have enjoyed seeing his friends. Headless horseman costume is a plus. Good for you with your etheree. Cat Scratch Fever-love the idea of this along with the illustration!

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 1, 2020 at 2:03 PM

      Thank you, Carol! Dogs are the most patient critters who allow us humans to dress them up and they still love us. :)

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  6. Linda MitchellOctober 31, 2020 at 1:00 PM

    I love coming to this blog. I am guaranteed a smile at least. From Smidgey as a squash to how you and your daughter have an ekphrastic poem collaboration. It's wonderful. I spent the week teaching 7th graders word choice, imagery and figurative language with ekphrastic poetry. It was fun...and I am a little pooped. But, posts like these give me energy. Thank you!

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 1, 2020 at 2:11 PM

      Aw, thank you, Linda! The greatest compliment is that you smile when you visit. You are wonderful teacher who spreads the joy of poetry to middle schoolers. :)

      Delete
  7. Robyn Hood BlackOctober 31, 2020 at 3:35 PM

    Happy (belated) Birthday, Bridget! And OH - so much to love here today. Those animal names - HA! Fantastic. Your whole family's creativity. And that kitty on the LP.... purrrrrfect.
    Happy Halloween!

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  8. RuthOctober 31, 2020 at 8:17 PM

    I love that drawing, and your poem pairs perfectly with it!

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 1, 2020 at 2:13 PM

      Thanks, Ruth! It's fun partnering with my girls...and my patient dog. :)

      Delete
  9. Mary LeeOctober 31, 2020 at 10:12 PM

    I'm in love with the etheree form, and you did it justice. What rich word choices!

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  10. Janice ScullyNovember 1, 2020 at 12:52 AM

    You and Kamala have the same birthday! Jill and Joe got married the day before my birthday. Fun facts. Your etheree had some great alliteration. Nice work.

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 1, 2020 at 2:58 PM

      Thanks, Janice! Love all the connections to our lives. :)

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  11. laurasalasNovember 1, 2020 at 2:55 PM

    I love all of this--all those lovely black kitties (ours was Zorro) and Maureen's art AND your terrific etheree! A feast for the senses, and I love the alliteration!

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  12. Michelle Heidenrich BarnesNovember 2, 2020 at 3:54 PM

    Bridget! My parents also celebrate their anniversary on June 17th! Can't wait to tell them that they are in such good company. :D Did I know Maureen was an artist? I don't think so. Love her scratch drawing and the wonderful poem it inspired too! (Also love Coleen's real live kitties—I'm partial to black kitties as well.)

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 4, 2020 at 11:03 AM

      Thanks, Michelle! Yay for love on the 17 of June! Thanks for appreciating my girls. :)

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  13. Kathy and GregNovember 2, 2020 at 8:15 PM

    Thanks for the Halloween cheer! And that's awesome that you share an anniversary with the Bidens and a birthday with Kamala. Happy belated birthday! Hope your anniversary and birthday buddies are victorious on Tuesday.

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    1. Bridget MageeNovember 4, 2020 at 11:04 AM

      Thanks, Kathy! I'm rooting for victory with every fiber of my being...
      I appreciate you stopping by and commenting. :)

      Delete

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