Poem for Sunday: Upon Seeing Himself in a Mirror
Upon Seeing Himself in a Mirror
Startled, an unexpected
kitten before him, he
cautiously greets this unknown feline, offers
friendly gestures though it has no
true kitten attributes, no smell or sound. He
doesn’t know, of course, it is
himself he sees, for he
senses himself in a different way, the
horrors he endured before rescue
blurred in the distant darkness of his reflection,
and with trust he has learned reaches out to
this hesitant, wide-eyed kitten with kindness
to share the lesson
he has learned.
Upon Seeing Himself in a Mirror © 2014 Bernadette E. Kazmarski
. . . . . . .
Smokie has just discovered a few new places, and one of them is the top of the wardrobe where so many cats have sat to watch the day and nap. It has a great view down the steps and into both upstairs rooms, and right next to the bathroom door a kitty can just look around the doorframe to see what’s happening in there. It’s a favorite place, but not all that easy to get to unless a ninja shows you how to stand here, jump up onto the windowsill, carefully turn around and leap straight up onto the top of the wardrobe., where Smokie encountered…himself, or at least, another cat.
He has seen himself in the bathroom mirror, but in this case he was confronted by a whole cat, not just a face that disappeared when he drew back. He can still be easily frightened, and stood kind of frozen for a second or two, then tentatively reached out to tap the unknown kitty’s nose, his first gesture one of friendship, just as it was when Bella came to live here.
He’s gotten used to himself now, and totally owns the top of that wardrobe. It’s been fulfilling to watch him change and grow.
And after I’d posted this I learned the outcome of the final awards in the Cat Writers Association contest, and that I’d won a Muse Medallion for a poem I wrote earlier this year, Once. Read about the awards here.
I’ve been quite busy in my studio, finishing up my annual calendars and a few other design projects as well as some handmade goods you’ll soon see. With that and some commercial design work, I’ve been very pressed for time but will soon have my posts back on schedule.
. . . . . . .
We are part of Sunday Selfie!
Read and listen to more poetry
My feline-themed poetry
Read more feline-themed poetry here on The Creative Cat, including a few I’ve recorded and even created video slideshows to illustrate. Click here or choose Poetry from the categories list.
And visit my Poetry page for my poetry about all subjects
My poetry is organized on my website on one page, all alphabetical, so you’d have to scroll down the list, and many of these poems also appear in the pages I’ve built for my annual poetry readings. I encourage you to visit those pages so you can see even more artwork, even if it isn’t of my cats or my backyard.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop or Fine Art America profile to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.
Do you appreciate the stories and images we offer you each day?
© 2014 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski
Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!
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Fine poem, I’m glad you wrote one about Smokey, I like him so much, not only because he is really cute, and a black one -that are favorites of mine- but also ’cause he is a young trouper he deserves praise.
Nice poem, Bernadette!