They Wanted To Be Poets
Poetry | Posted by Jannie on 14 October 2011 @ 2:39 PM 35 Comments
They wanted to be poets
munching words in libraries
and raspberries in Spain.
They wanted their images
to scamper in the fountains
of Italy and in the forests
of Nova Scotia and Maine.
They wanted to write poems
young girls would read beside
oceans, lakes, rivers, streams,
and
coffee cups as the first snow
of the season was whitening
the brownish grey that spring
would charm the tulips from.
They wanted to write epic
adventures with titles like
“Hey, Who Took My Socks,”
“An Introduction To Pruning Cats,” and
“Does This Haiku Make My Butt Look Big?”
They wanted to be poets, all.
And are, with every breath of every
day that has dawned since love first
scattered their names on the wind.
So there ya go — a poem inspired partly by two books on my music stand.
Words are fun, eh!?!
The other pic is from about a month ago of those two cats I love, felines who need no pruning at all. I call that shot ”Get Them Hungry Enough” … because it was the FIRST time KitKat ever willingly let Mieshka get within 20 feet of him!
He continues to warm to her, tho, which is a delight to my heart. I knew he would! (Eventually.) 
[He had been the only reigning cat here for 4 years, we got him when he was 6 weeks old.]
YOU are a delight to my heart too, dear Blogging Friend. Take care!
xoxooxxoxooxox
On 14 October 2011 at 3:06 pm Dulce said,
Always loved cats
always wanted to be a poet
always love your poems, Jannie!
On 14 October 2011 at 3:10 pm Lynn said,
I like that part about haiku maybe making ones butt look big.
Hee hee.
On 14 October 2011 at 3:19 pm Kim said,
I love it! Pruning cats sounds like messy work.
On 14 October 2011 at 3:52 pm Lady Nyo said,
ROTF~ You had me on the first picture….LOL!
As one with 12 cats in residence, and 9 I feed down the street, Pruning Cats has many layers.
You have a very compassionate poem on your hands, touching and deeper with each reading.
I love this, Jannie. You have a heart of pure gold. Your poetry and blog is so refreshing. And I love the pix for Lady Nyo Blog. LOL!
And I love that you LOVE cats!
Lady Nyo
On 14 October 2011 at 4:40 pm Jannie said,
Dulce Darling Dulce!! You ARE a poet — and always have been. We are born with this sweet affliction, I guess!
And that’s what I LOVE about the Internet — all this sharing, creativity and feedback. Who needs to search out publication in great poetry journals!?? We are MAKING our own journal, Sistah!! whooohooo.
Lynn — I KNOW, wasn’t that crazy?? I had the “introduction to Pruning cats” line (in fact had toiled over a poem with that name, but couldnt’ get it quite to my satisfaction.) So… was gladd to throw in a butt!!
In retrospect maybe “sonnet” would’ve been a better choice. But anyway… it is what it is and many other poems await in this weird litte brain of mine. 
Kim, hi! Yes, shearing, pruning, clipping, shaping them and all the lot — could get messy indeed!
Hi Lady Nyo — isn’t that pairing funny?? I was thinking my extra music stand would look cute with a book on it, which led to two of my current favorites. And voila!! Such a fun juxtaposition, or whatever you might call it. Well, ya know, my lady in Atlanta (Lynn just above your comment by 2 is also in Atlanta, btw… and she is AWESOME…) life has many layers, love, fun, longing, dreaming — so I got lucky and crammed most of that into one poem!!
Wow, geez, so you know about LOVING cats. Must be one size of a cat food bill you got, woman!! 
Oh, I’m so so so so glad you like the button. She is just darling sitting there under her tree, that pretty young new wife of a Samurai soldier. You blogging friends give so much joy to my existence I like to celebrate each of you will a little button, as I get to know you. And Oh — we have 2 dogs too, whom I love too, but I gotta say, cats are pretty darn special — those who don’t have any are missing out!! Thanks for all. I am so happy you find it refreshing here. I like to share nice things.
xoxooxoxoxxo
On 14 October 2011 at 5:20 pm Mama Zen said,
How funny! I was thinking “Introduction to Pruning Cats,” too!
On 14 October 2011 at 5:41 pm Daisy said,
Jannie, you always make me smile when I come here. I enjoyed your poem. I hate it when haikus do that!!
You always take us on a delightful ride into whimsy land, and it is always fun. Love the cats picture too. Happy weekend to you! 
On 14 October 2011 at 6:23 pm secret agent woman said,
“Does This Haiku Make My Butt Look Big” made me laugh out loud.
On 14 October 2011 at 6:47 pm Pat Hatt said,
Great fun from just two magazines and you know Pat and the cat like the kitties too!
On 14 October 2011 at 11:25 pm Jeanne said,
Jannie,
I agree with Daisy (above). You always make me smile when I stop by here as well. I’m glad your cats are getting along so nicely.
Jeanne
On 15 October 2011 at 1:48 am Thomma Lyn said,
Awwww, your kitties are precious! They remind me of our precious Brainball and Dorydoo. We have four kitties and have since 2006, but Brainball has been around since 2001, and we adopted Dorydoo in 2004. For the first few days Dorydoo was in the house, Brainball wasn’t too pleased. But it didn’t take long before he started warming to her, then it was like they just fell in kitty love. Today, Dorydoo keeps her distance from the other Ballicai except for Brainball, and they often sleep snuggled together just the way they did when she was just a kitten.
Cats! I love cats!
And I adore your poem. Whimsical, warm, and filled with heart. And ROFL at “Pruning Cats!” I think Brainball needs to be pruned.
He’s such a floof monster! hehe
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
On 15 October 2011 at 9:01 am kaykuala said,
Pruning cats, making the butt bigger! Whew! way out titles which would have a lot of humor if they go to print. Hilarious, Jannie! What other titles I wonder!
Hank
On 15 October 2011 at 9:52 am suzen said,
Hey there Jannie! Glad to be back on line – three weeks with no computer at home drove me NUTS. The one wifi at the library was so slow I couldn’t download your blog – cuz of all your pictures I’m thinkin. Anywaysssssssssssss, today I’ll be bathing and pruning my two little dogs! Fall has come and about to lead into that awful “w” thing – perhaps I should escape to Austin for the next 6 months! haha
Hugs
suZen
On 15 October 2011 at 10:15 am Jannie said,
Hey Dearest Mama Zen, it would be interesting to do a poll and see if most people made that sentence automatically too. Or I wonder is it just a poet’s mind thing??
Dearest Daisy — lately everything is doing that to my butt!!!
Been lazy with my bun lifts and thigh work. SO GLAD you got a smile. I hope the whimsyland express continues to run on my main line for you!! 
Dearest Haiku Secret Agent Woman — it made me laugh too when it came to me.
Laugh a lot. Does that make me crazy? crazier than usual, I mean.
Dearest Pat Hatt — I thought of you as I posted this, how the cat aspect would appeal to you. Hope your feline is fine today!!
JEANNE!!!!!!! DEAREST JEANNE!! You are so sweet to be out and about on my blog. Thanks for your awesome presence here. Well… KitKat still has a ways to go with being Mieshka’s friend but it’s gone from him totally freaking out that “that thing” is in HIS house and him not coming in the house AT ALL for about 2 months, to him coming in a lot now, and I think I even saw him play with her once. He’ll be fine. He’s a sweet old fuddy-duddy and Mieshka an energetic little gal, but they’ll get things evened out.
Dearest Thomma Lynn, well I was trying to get a Flash 55 ready for yesterday with that name “An Introduction to Pruning Cats” but I just couldn’t get it right. But luckily I was still able to slip the line into this poem. Kelly bought the Cats book just before we got Mieshka, when she had kittenfever, and luckily we got little rescue Mieshka shortly thereafter. Yes, I SO thought of you and your cats and how you might like this post and lo… here you are!!!! Yay!!!!!! I think of your lovely 4 kitties and you often!! For a more indepth story on how KitKat and Mieshka are getting along, read what I wrote directly above to Jeanne. Floof monster — how cute. Oh, and the poem was to start this way…. “Shear off your feline misconceptions and trim a cat into your life…” Anyway, AWESOME to see you back again.
Hank, Hank, Hank — what a great new blogging buddy I have found in you, my friend! Do YOU have cats? Yes, what other titles indeed. I am amassing a new list of song titles and will post when I’ve got 10. I did a post like that htere… http://www.janniefunster.com/2011/05/28/10-potential-new-jannie-song-titles/ And maybe 10 funny poem titles will come along too.
Dearest Suzen, I had no idea you were in such an Internet dilemma. But glad you made it out of the fog — but no “w” thing yet. Our library computers are SO FAST, please tell yours to get up to speed too. Yes, I know — me and thes “big-butt” photos. Sorry ’bout that. Bet your 2 poochies will look MARVELOUS. What kinds do you have?
And off I go to a song called “Would It Be Okay?” Trying to get my melody line sorted out for that.
TaTa for now, cat pruners…
xooxoxoxoxxoxoxo
On 16 October 2011 at 12:54 am Caity said,
I seriously love your poems so much.
They always make me happy.
I laughed at the haiku making my butt look big.
I love the 4th stanza the best.
On 16 October 2011 at 9:53 pm karen law said,
I really enjoy reading the poem thanks a lot for sharing!
On 17 October 2011 at 3:10 pm Linda said,
Definitely an interesting and unusual combination of inspirational books. You never know from where the poetry floweth.
I’m glad they are getting along better. It takes a little time with a few smacks and hisses. Our cats have all gotten along famously after the initial getting-to-know each other phase. In multiple cat households, there is a pecking order to be established. Rosie may act like a mama’s boy to people, but he won’t be pushed around by another cat. When Dood came into the house, Rosie was upfront with what he would not tolerate. “Stay outta my face and don’t step on my tail.”
On 17 October 2011 at 3:14 pm Patricia of Patricias Wisdom said,
Oh Jannie,
I just started to laugh, even though you had my attention at raspberries…and continued on until I got to haiku big butts and then my eyes were all teared up, I had to go away and cook a piece of salmon so I could return to make a comment.
I did not read it a second time, but I am coming back after Peace Choir Tonight to enjoy it again…
Thank you – Laughter is always appreciated…and this was the bomb!
On 17 October 2011 at 8:23 pm Jannie said,
Dearest Caity… So glad to hear that!! Popular line that haiku making the butt look big, that one.
Thanks Dearest Karen… you are welcome.
Dearset Linda, “Dood” what a cute name! I am afraid Mieshka is trying to be top on the pecking order here, and is giving KitKat quite a run for his money. K prety-much stayed outside for all of August and Sept. He’s such a cutie. They both are.
Dearest Patricia. We had salmon for supper! I wish I could be there with you are Peace Choir. Bet it was fun. Hope the second reading was as fun?
xoxoxooxxooxoxo
On 18 October 2011 at 1:42 pm G-Man said,
Does my Big Butt make my Haiku look small?
On 18 October 2011 at 8:12 pm Jannie said,
G-Man… Infinitely!!
But I thought your butt was small!!
xooxox
On 18 October 2011 at 9:03 pm colleen said,
What fun. I was imagining cats scampering in fountains, eating raspberries and Spain and wanting to be poets. Don’t we all?
I love the freedom your writing expresses.
On 18 October 2011 at 9:54 pm SnaggleTooth said,
Don’t you wonderhow those “cat ladies” with a house full of kitties get them not to kill each other?
Lets hope we never need to prune the cats! RRrraaaaahhooow!
Fun poem, wow from those two books?
Great pic of the two cats! If it gets cold they might sleep together too, but it’s been so warm there-
On 19 October 2011 at 11:41 am Jannie said,
Hi Dearest Colleen, I like the energy your soul expresses! And your comments here. I think eating raspberries in Spain would be something to try indeed!! Never been to Spain, but I kinda like the music.
Colleen, you ARE poet. And I like your writing.
Hi Dearest Snaggle, I was saying in an e-mail to Talon a little while ago how last night both cats snubbled next to me in the chill of the night. I’m allergic to them, but their love is writh it. Yes, cats that were not litter mates could end up fighting. Warm there? We were 48 for a low last night!! JIm wanted to put on the heat, but I said NO — an extra blanket will do.
See you ladies soon…
xoxooxoxo
On 19 October 2011 at 5:37 pm LL Cool Joe said,
Ah it’s so good to hear that the cats are beginning to get on better together! I love that photo and your words too of course!
On 20 October 2011 at 10:27 am Chris Edgar said,
Cats that don’t need pruning?? What are they, genetically engineered hybrid supersoldier cats? Who are intelligent enough to write poetry? The mind boggles. It’s good to see you again Janz and I hope you’re well!
On 20 October 2011 at 11:42 am Jannie said,
Hey Awesome LLCoolJoe!! You are so so so sweet and awesome to keep coming back to thsi “dens of funiquity.” Thanks for being here. Or having been here. (Tho you are ever in this post now in spirit!!)
Yes, poor KitKat keeps getting stalked, especially early in the morning when Mieshka is feeling her friskiest. He still meows at the injustice of it all, but I’ve seen him playing a time or two with her. Photo, photol Oh yes, that photo! I still have those books on there like that. Maybe I’ll scour my bookshelf and see what else could have an Introduction To The Pruning Thereof… 
Dearest Lovely Christopher Edgar, Enlightened I should add, who art in California… ya, know, Darlin’ Chris… I am pretty darn well indeed!! Thought I may have to help Jim at his shop today, in the office, but I’m off scot-free on that, whheeeeee-heeeee. So, I’m “working” on song #12 for this CD I might just call “Keepers.” A little mood tune of inspirational speldor called “Love Will Be The Answer.” As in….. love will be the answer, the one defining dancer so light on its feet, forgiving and sweet…”
But enough of that little side-flight. 
A better question is how are YOU????? I think a Russian Blue would be a nice cat — low to no dander. Supersoldier cats, sounds a little too “Artificial Intelligence-y to me.” 
Now, back to my little attic writing garret…..
xooxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxo
On 23 October 2011 at 10:50 am Hilary said,
Hi jannie ..loved this – what on earth are you feeding the cats in? I’ve never heard of high flying feeding cats – look like they’re on a flight over feet ..
Cheers and absolutely thought the poem was great .. and the music stand .. very good use for books .. enjoy the week .. Hilary
On 24 October 2011 at 6:32 pm Jannie Funster said,
hi Dear Hilary — I missed you there.
That is an old child’s school desk with the top missing for the cat food table. Keeps the food up and away from the two always-mooching poochies.
And now I’m heading to YOUR blog, my head out of songwriting now, and me in the studio in one hour from now!!!
xoxoxo
On 24 October 2011 at 8:51 pm Alice Audrey said,
Pruning cats?!
On 25 October 2011 at 7:24 am Ravenblack said,
“Does This Haiku Make My Butt Look Big?” LOL!
I do think that well written books have poetic properties.
Anyway, I do enjoy reading this one, the repeated “they wanted…” followed by the vision of the ideal writing life.
Love the cat photo too, such nice coats they have. They must be lovely.
On 25 October 2011 at 9:23 am Jannie said,
Dearest Alice Audrey — Remember Amelia Bedelia, in the book about the bridal shower she gave, how she put prunes on the hedges… maybe i’ll do the same for our 2 cats.
Dearest RavenBlack — THAT line is a definite HIT with almost everybody!!! I wonder if I should make it into a song title??!! Or maybe….. “Does This Song Make My Butt Look Big?”
Or maybe not. Yes, those two cats are the freakingest AWESOMEST pets in the world!! Different personalities, but both loveable to the max. Oh, and yes — I agree on your well-written-books thought, poetry indeed!
Oh shoot, thinking about big butts…. I think I’ll go do 30 butt lifts on each side now. And if I DO, I’ll come back and report it.
Wish there were a Jazzercise closer to here!!
xoxooxoxoxox
On 25 October 2011 at 9:45 am Jannie said,
YAY!!!! I DID my butt work, while listening to “Poppy Seed” from this post…
http://calorielab.com/news/2011/10/17/the-magic-that-is-music/
xoxoxooxoxxoo
On 27 October 2011 at 10:11 pm Margaret said,
An Introduction To Pruning Cats… now that’s a title my “allergic” husband might like. We only have two cats now. It IS funny when a kitten is brought in… makes the “old” cat act all crazy-like.
On 27 October 2011 at 10:26 pm Jannie said,
Hi Again, Dear Margaret, how did I ever get so lucky to have you “wasting” all your time reading my blog? I have NO idea, but I do thank you so much.
My cat allergies have been fine the past week or so, but boy-howdy when they act up they are not good.
I think of them as daytime and night-time cats now. KitKat snuggles with me in bed, and Mieshka on my lap during the day.
xoxoxoxo