Monthly Archives: December 2014

Poetry for Kittens

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Poetry for Kittens!

Poetry for Kittens!

We have new neighbours on Alberta Avenue, who have a delightful kitten who sits in the window, plays with the curtains and lays in the sun. When they leave the house I wondered, “what does he do all day?”

This is what I imagined…

 

I sit up here so loftily

Waiting for them to turn the key

My kingdom then is left to me

It’s poetry for kittens!

The dog’s tied up, more fun for me,

Knocking the ornaments from the tree

They crack and smash on the floor

Tee, hee

It’s poetry for kittens!

I’ve killed a mouse to impress the spouse

And put it inside the gingerbread house

 My people will love it—I’m into the souse

It’s poetry for kittens!

Ho, Ho, the fridge is not tightly closed

I push it open with furry repose

Turkey leftovers, I’ll have some of those

It’s poetry for kittens!

Someone left my laser toy on,

I’ll play with it ‘till early dawn

And find the catnip turns me on

It’s poetry for kittens!

I need no Frosty or Santa Claus to give this kitten a Christmas pause

Her nylons left out, I’ll shred with my claws

It’s poetry for kittens!

So when I’ve ate and played no end

Then shredded the pillows upon their bed

I’ll find a place to lay my head

It’s poetry for kittens!

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Merry Christmas, Santa

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On Christmas Eve

I awake early to the sound of cans and bottles tinkling

it is still dark,

but just outside our fence

where I have put the garbage for today’s pickup,

you grasp and feel

sensitive to a bottle or can thrown away.

I watch you move onto my neighbour’s garbage

with your bag of empties thrown over your shoulder

like a dark outline

of an early Santa Claus.

“We Believe in 118”

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"We Believe in 118"

“We Believe in 118”

 

The “We Believe in 118” community coalition began a sign initiative along 118 Avenue, which has  gained noticeable momentum, judging by the number of signs visible in the windows of businesses and organizations on Alberta Avenue. With the advent of Christmas, the word “believe” is highly visible. I wrote this poem as I pondered the meaning and power of this word in the Alberta Avenue community. 

 

As I walk down the Avenue,

I notice lots of signs

“walk”  “don’t walk”  “yield”

“line starts here”

I see as I pass by.

But there’s one sign that gives me pause,

I feel it through and through

“We Believe in 118”

Long live the Avenue!

“Believe” is such a simple word, a history of light,

a sign upon the Avenue, morning, noon and night.

The fates of those who slumber here, rest upon this word

like snowflakes on graffitied walks, lay upon the curb.

But a battle rages underneath, crying to be heard,

As we look forward, onward now—

whispering the word.