Does this poem capture the essence of "Cat"?

... house cat, to be precise. That was my intention.
Does the layout work? -- the internal rhyme?

***


            "Cat-"


Cat-
rageous
that
   stages stealth itself as immobile
   as the Sphinx of old while prey yet bold
   feels piercing eyes that stop it cold --
as on coiled air Cat pounces --
there! (oooooooooohhhhhhhh...allllMOST!)


Cat
pauses
licks
   paws its poise apparent toe to tail
   not a hint of shame no foil aflame
   just placid patience for the game
now still keen ears faint stirings
hear (thudump...thump..thudump)


Cat
senses
that
   thence is coming lumbering human
   to the grand armchair taboo when bare
   but filled with lap it's Cat's to share
with leaping grace Cat takes its
place (a swirl of fur that
magically transforms into
one long sonorous
infinite felinity
of purrrrrr....)


© 1999, 2010 Paul Amorose

***

Tony h2010-02-02T07:10:49Z

Favorite Answer

Brilliant! Thank you for a truly beautiful poem.

"with leaping grace Cat takes its
place (a swirl of fur that
magically transforms into
one long sonorous
infinite felinity
of purrrrrr....)"

That is one of the best things I've ever read on the cat-scene - luscious English.
Have you read "Milk for the Cat" by Harold Munro? You both know your Cats.

Anonymous2016-04-07T07:34:13Z

I read this twice. The way you layer longer story-related prose is admirable, and something I have much trouble with. You make it seem effortless, natural, but all of us who write know the opposite is true. I often measure the effectiveness of a piece by the number of TD's........Jealousy rears it's green head. Kudos to you, Mr Carney.

Anonymous2010-02-03T13:02:37Z

I feel like a pussssy for answering
a poem about cats and such, but
hey....

since I now have my second cat
(my first ever croaked of a mild brain disorder)

I catnot say I cat'nt relate.

and cat hairs in my
marscapone I catn't deny.

Fine Cat Poem !
.
.

jenny2010-02-02T13:21:43Z

I could vision the movement, for sure.
Not a cat house lover, but a cat watcher, enjoy
watching their antics from my window,
they stray onto my property.
Nice pen.

Skeleton with rootbeers.2010-02-02T07:27:57Z

Well I don't know how it hold essence of housecat, because to me, it seem to be more tiger or other predator cats.

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