Featured Poetry and Art: Solstice Moon
Solstice Moon
A satin silent night,
A silver path through my window,
And silken paws paused to stay
On the pillow next to me.
“Solstice Moon” © 1981 Bernadette E. Kazmarski
. . . . . . .
Aside from class assignments here and there through school, this was my first poem. Its inspiration and subject? I was actually home for Christmas, in my old room, and missed my cat Bootsie, who had earlier that year returned with me to college. Not only was she not there with me, but there was no cat at all and I’d grown quite accustomed to sharing my space with cats. I had referenced this poem and Bootsie coming to be with me in college in “The Unintended Gift”.
Now when I read it I think of all the cats since then who slept on my pillow whose silken paws are touched by the moonlight, not with sadness, but with the love and hope with which I originally wrote this poem.
When I decided I would illustrate this poem I envisioned it in monochrome, that vague shadow and light from the window with the brightest moonlight on the curled shape on the pillow. I wanted it to be more abstract, though, kind of the way you see things in the dark, kind of the way you would see a memory on your pillow in the moonlight. It’s fine sanded paper and black pastel with only two shades of gray pastel. I added the text later in my graphics program.
May you remember with fondness this holiday season and coming new year all the felines who’ve shared your life, and all the animals and humans who are and have been a part of your life.
Enjoy other poems about my cats including a few poems I’ve recorded on audio or with slideshows.
Featured Artwork
Each week on Wednesday I feature a piece of artwork, sometimes a current or historic portrait, sometimes an illustration or an art project from years ago, usually cat-themed, but sometimes wildlife or even non-animal subjects, and even projects from my commercial art life. Read other Featured Artwork posts.
Gifts featuring cats you know from Portraits of Animals
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Winter Cats Keepsake from Portraits of Animals!
I love snow light, inside or out, and with the bare trees and in winter I’m reminded of other snowy days and the cats who enjoyed them with me. This set joins four paintings of my cats done in winter light in a looser, Impressionist style, in a series I call “Winter Cats”. Each was rescued from a life outdoors in the cold, ice and snow, and I am glad I could provide a loving home from where they could simply enjoy a snowy day from the inside. This papier-mâché box has five of my “Winter Cats” pastel paintings on the lid and four sides of the box, trimmed with soft light green. Box measures 6″ x 6″ x 6″. Price includes shipping. Read more and order.
Copyright
All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals 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.
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© 2022 | 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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Having a cat sleep next to me is something I will cherish always too.
That was a really neat poem.
Bootsie was never the most affectionate of cats, but she was an “other pillow sleeper”, I’ll always remember.