Filling the Well: Ray Bradbury and... cats

 

 

from A day with Bum; And, The smart little fish
Rare Books Division, NY Public Library

 

That's the great secret of creativity. 

You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.  

 

– Ray Bradbury

from Zen in the Art of Writing

 

 

"Our cats always follow me when the deliveryman brings a package"

– walter santi

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce2hnS4kJiU

 

 

And, because I can't resist a good cat video, two more along the same theme:  

Tiny Kitten Parade Follows Owner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGFOUAG-WrY

Dramatic Stalking Cat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG6iF7fPzkU

 

 

 

April 1: John Muir

April 2: e.e. cummings and enra

April 3: Edith Wharton and Henri Matisse

April 4: Cesare Pavese 

April 5: Anton Chekhov and Cat Stevens

April 6: Ray Bradbury and... cats

 

DMC: "Circle of Life" by M. Hogan

CIRCLE OF LIFE

Outside my window

morning light grows

the glassy-eyed chipmunk 

yesterday’s gift from my cat

still lies on the granite step

Last night

snarls ripped through 

the dark

My fervent calls

yielded no response

just furtive rustling 

in the shadowed woods

I slipped back indoors

into uneasy sleep

Outside my window

morning light grows

the chipmunk remains

my cat does not appear.

© 2018 M. Hogan. All rights reserved.

* Note from Michelle: I'm pleased to report that Molly's cat did eventually return!

 

Click HERE to read this month's interview with Julie Fogliano. She has challenged us to stare out the window and write a poem about what we see. You might even consider writing something down every day for a week: 

At the end of the week, read through what you wrote and write your favorite bits on a separate piece of paper. I bet there will be a poem in there somewhere… see if you can find it.  – J. F.

You have until Thursday, May 31st, at 5:00 pm (EST) to join in! Post your poem on our May 2018 padlet and I will add it to the wrap-up presentation HERE. One lucky participant will win a personalized copy of Julie's stunning new picture book from Roaring Brook Press:

DMC: "November" by Suzy Levinson

NOVEMBER

When the world's closing in,
way too loud
way too cold
I curl up in my chair,
which is soft
which is old
pull my knees to my chin,
with a book
with a cat
watch the rain as it falls...
pitter-pat
pitter-pat.

© 2016 Suzy Levinson. All rights reserved.


Ann Rider has challenged us to write poems about places of refuge and solace this month. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our November 2016 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, November 25th, and one lucky participant will win a copy of BEFORE MORNING by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes, courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.

DMC: "The Escape" by Janie Lazo

THE ESCAPE

An empty cage- a door agape
One hamster gone- a great escape
A frantic search- no clues in sight
No fond farewell - a senseless plight
For safe and sound- one hamster sat
Guarded closely - by our cat

© 2016 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Diana Murray has challenged us to write a poem about an unlikely hero this month. Click HERE for more details.

Post your poem on our August 2016 padlet. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration this Friday, August 26th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of her fun new picture book from Roaring Brook Press:

DMC: "Cat" by Janie Lazo

Cat 

I crave her silky softness
As her slender body moves
Graceful passes so alluring
Still my touch she dares reprove
When I call to her she listens
But to hasten? no not she
Though I beckon - she ignores me
Too aloof to hear my pleas
So I sit alone in silence
I'm no fool, I shall not beg
Then this flighty, flirty, vixen
Soon is rubbing on my leg 

© 2015 Janie Lazo. All rights reserved.


Marcus Ewert has challenged us to write love poems this month– about relationships that seem unrequited, but which end up being requited after all. Click HERE for more details.

Send your poem to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com, or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on Friday, October 30th, and one lucky participant will win an autographed copy of his fabulous new picture book:

DMC: "Dear Cat" by Katie Gast

Dear Cat,

I love you on my lap.
I love to hear your purr.
But must your play involve a snap
And what’s with all the fur?
Oh queen, aloof. You go your way
You barely look at me.

Best regards throughout your day,
Your slave eternally.

© 2015 Katie Gast. All rights reserved.


David Elliott has challenged us to write a letter poem this month.  Click HERE for details.

RSVP with your poem to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com, or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right. All contributions will be included in a wrap-up celebration on February 27th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of David's delightful new collection of bird poetry:

DMC: "Black Cat at Night" by Donna Smith

Black Cat at Night

fall night of shadow
chases black < cat > black chases
shadow of night fall

© 2014 Donna JT Smith. All rights reserved.

Bob Raczka has challenged us to write a monster-inspired haiku this month.  Click HERE for details.

To add your haiku to the monster mayhem, send it to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com, or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right. All submissions will be included in the wrap-up celebration on November 28th, and one lucky participant will win a personalized copy of Bob's delightful new haiku collection:

DMC: "Robin and Kat" by Jan Gars

Robin and Kat


Robin, oh robin how sweetly you sing,
A lyric of springtime
Awakens the morn.
Robin, oh robin enticing, your beauty,
Enlighten the Earth
As sunlight is born.
Robin, oh robin you preen and you wallow,
As you bathe in the water
By the wood at the pond.
Robin, oh robin preparing for flight,
Through  meadows and valleys
And pastures beyond.
Robin, oh robin come set in the garden,
And tantalize nature
With plumage so rare.
Robin, oh robin gaze into my eyes,
As we lose our self-conscious
In hypnotic stare.
Robin, oh robin you captivate senses,
With feathers of satin
And breast plump and red.
Robin, oh robin a statue you stand,
As Queen Aphrodite
With muse in your head.

                                              Hmmmm…

                                              GULP

                                              You’re tasty too!

© 2014 Jan Gars. All rights reserved.


Irene Latham has challenged us to write a poem of address this month (click HERE for details). We'd love for you to join in! Send your poem to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right.

Submissions will be included in an end-of-month wrap-up on September 26th and all participants will be entered to win a copy of Irene's beautiful new children's poetry collection:

DMC: "Cock-a-doodle purrr" by Miranda Barnes

"This shouldn't be hard,"
said the cat in the yard.
"I'll bet it's as easy as pie."
Her cock-a-doodle purrr
was as fuzzy as fur,
but at least she gave it a try.

– Miranda Barnes (age 11), all rights reserved


Lori Degman has challenged us to wake Farmer McPeeper.  If you would like to join in the animal antics, write a stanza in the same style as COCK-A-DOODLE OOPS! (click HERE for details) and send to TodaysLittleDitty (at) gmail (dot) com or use the contact form in the sidebar to the right.

All participants will be rounded up for an end-of-month hoedown on August 29th and entered to win a personalized copy of Lori's delightful new picture book:

The Witching Hour

We're halfway through the Halloween Countdown, and the suspense is killing me!  Will I survive this Insomnia?

A "weensie" dose of lighter fare may be just what I need to pull through, so I've decided to enter the 3rd annual Halloweesie Contest sponsored by Susanna Leonard Hill.  The rules of the contest are simple: write a Halloween story in 100 words or less.  It can be scary or funny, poetry or prose, but it must be appropriate for children and include the words spooky, black cat, and cackle.

Well, you know me, I took the "little ditty" approach.

          THE WITCHING HOUR

          This is the tale

          of two cats and a whale

          named Spooky, Cackle and Boo.

          Each Halloween

          the trio is seen

          traversing the ocean blue.

          An unusual sight—

          black cats in the night

          on the tail of a whale, it’s true.

          But once every year

          when bewitching time’s here,

          they set sail and admire the view.

          © 2013 Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.

Courtesy of Eunice and Andrew, Lazy Cats Are Here

Be sure to stop by Susanna's blog, Something for Everyone in the World of Children's Books, to read and enjoy all of the entries.  After the finalists have been selected, there will be a vote for the winner on Monday, November 4th.