Thursday, March 28, 2024
cat artworkcat poetrycatskellypoetryrecorded poemyoutube video

Poem for Today: Pawprints and Raindrops

blue photo collage of cats on bed with water pattern
Early on a rainy morning…

It rained softly this morning, whispering in the trees all around the house, and I have been remembering Kelly today and this poem inspired by her and a certain drizzly summer morning in 2009. I could have no better tribute to her gentle and loving personality.

Pawprints and Raindrops

I am not awake but aware
of the sound of raindrops
whispering in the leaves and tapping on the roof
in the early morning, still dark
and little Kelly, sensing my awareness
hurries over and steps on my back;
I feel her tiny cold paws dimpling the surface of my skin
as I drift off in the murmur of her purr and the rain
I think of raindrops on water,
I am the water, my skin the surface
and I can look up and in the increasing daylight
see the circular ripples of contentment
mingling on my own surface.

poem © 2010 Bernadette E. Kazmarski

You can listen to the poem too—see the link below.

 

~  ~~~  ~

About the poem…

Kelly really did this one early Saturday morning in 2009. I listened to the rain in the blue light of early dawn and she knew I was awake and came over and walked all over my back, purring. We were the only ones awake. Kelly had tiny paws and they were always cold, something that was uniquely her, and picturing those tiny paws dimpling my skin through the sheet as she walked on me was what connected the rain, the water, Kelly and me. I remember visualizing the lines of this, images first, descriptive words later.

I wrote this poem in 2009 but finalized it in 2010 just in time for my annual poetry reading at Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall in February 2010. “Pawprints and Raindrops” went on to be published in a variety of sites on the internet, and it also won both a Certificate of Excellence and Muse Medallion for poetry from the Cat Writer’s Association in 2010. In spring 2012 I began recording some of my poems, especially those with highly visual content so that I could also create a slideshow of images to accompany the text.

I’ve recorded it with a slideshow of images and uploaded it to YouTube, but you can click the embedded video below and watch it right here.

Enjoy other poems about my cats.

Listen to other recorded poems about my cats.

Visit my YouTube site for all my recorded poems (so far).


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.


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© 2015 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

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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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Bernadette

From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

11 thoughts on “Poem for Today: Pawprints and Raindrops

  • Pingback: Poem for Saturday: Upon Seeing Himself in a Mirror | Paths I Have Walked

  • This is such a mellifluous line:

    “. . . as I drift off in the murmur of her purr and the rain. . . .”

    I shall listen to your reading now.

    Reply
  • bluemoonalone

    What a wonderful memory Bernadette..I enjoyed hearing your pretty voice and hearing your love for Kelly coming through..I must listen to more of your recorded poems…they are a glimpse into your heart..

    Reply
    • Kind of an extension of my poetry readings, Bluemoonalone. I sometimes think the work needs to exist without the artist’s interference, but then I also think the artist should give their interpretation as well.

      Reply
      • bluemoonalone

        I would think the artist would give the best interpretation B….

        Reply
        • But two things: 1) you should be able to have your own interpretation through your experience, and 2) I should be skilled enough to impart my message without being there. Those are old-fashioned ideas of creative effort, but I still follow them.

          Reply
  • Just beautiful! I was listening to music that just accompanied poem off perfectly! And then I turned it off to hear you read it. Loved it!

    Reply
    • Carolyn, what wonderful serendipity! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Takes me back each time I read it.

      Reply

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