Cat Carnival in West Venice. Dr. Seuss.
One night, the local vertical was lost.
Some found it terrifying: stairways curled,
And lines in parallel bent close, and crossed;
Dependable perceptions of the world
Began to melt, and soon gave way to vision,
As mullions turned to whimsy, and fatigue
To decoration; commonplace precision
Was given up to rumor, and intrigue.
The evening seemed forever. Once, outside,
Unfazed by shifting geometric proof,
Two cats passed by the window, dignified
And radiant, and self-absorbed. Aloof.
The cat upstairs has landed on his feet.
He told me of the couple in the street,
When last he came to get a bite to eat.
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Alysa Salzberg
Melissa Miles McCarter
Scarlett Sumac
jlsathre
Matt Paust
Jowita Bydlowska
Salon.com
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rated with love.
By Dr. Seuss who sets loose the obtuse,
The mild or outrageous wild
And woolly universes bedeviled by Circe's
Whims and curses, incurable by nurses
But always curious and fun where,
In shining sunlight, blossom scented air,
one could dance in sun with Dali
Twist and turn in Escher's odd configurations
Giggle at weird intimations
And land flat footed back from folly
Into sane reality, somewhat wiser
Out of contact with this mad advisor.
The outrageous wild and woolly
Began to melt, and soon gave way to vision,
As mullions turned to whimsy, and fatigue
To decoration; commonplace precision
Was given up to rumor, and intrigue.
Magical! Thank you!
I fed my cat Kitty, to Max the dog
he squealed delightfully like a hog
and promised silence with first bite
the end of Kitty. So long, good night.
Fantastical poem.
RP, that is a very strong adjective. Thank you.
Jan, thank you for your poem as always. I read a lot of admiration for Dr. Seuss. Let's raise a glass.
Pilgrim, I actually read the phrase "local vertical" first in an article about SkyLab. Apparently where there is no gravity, some people still need an arbitrary vertical, to avoid vertigo. Somehow it fit the painting.
Ken, oh man, how everyone's back story leaks out from time to time.
anna1, he is doing fine. I'll tell him you were asking about him.
Joan, yeah? Thank you!
Kate, I'm very happy that you liked it. It's funny, none of that came until I had the word "mullions".
tg within, Seuss is in my Pantheon, alongside Shakespeare. He is the reason I won't go near anapests - I'd be terrified.
trilogy, I'm glad you hopped on for the ride. And that you enjoyed it.
c&v yes, the stairs. I was considering having the lady cat lose a slipper on them. That all went away with the vertical. And that hole for the tail really does pull focus, doesn't it.
Thank you all for coming by -- and for your kindness, no matter which way my writing goes. You are all very instrumental in it happening at all. Thank you.