Thursday, September 29, 2022

Welcome!


Happy Poetry Friday, everybody! Time to pile up the poetry like turtles lounging in the sun.

This meme ruined being able to say that I hope this post finds you well:


So let's just say I'm glad you found this post! Today we have a pussy-willow poem and a call for the holiday poetry swap, as well as the round-up.

The Willow Cats
by Margaret Widdemer

They call them pussy-willows,
But there’s no cat to see
Except the little furry toes
That stick out on the tree:

I think that very long ago,
When I was just born new,
There must have been whole pussy-cats
Where just the toes stick through---

And every Spring it worries me,
I cannot ever find
Those willow-cats that ran away
And left their toes behind!

*************


It seems too early to be thinking about the holidays, but I didn't want let this chance to catch everyone pass me by! If you are interested in sending one poem and gift to a poetry friend, email me at tabathayeatts(at)gmail(dot)com. I will collect names until Halloween, and then in early November I'll send out swap info.



28 comments:

Robyn Hood Black said...

Ha! Well, this post is certainly appropriate for my lack of a post this week; just the hurricane symbol and a few words and a pointer this direction. Thanks for hosting, Tabatha!

Jone MacCulloch said...

I truly love your humor. The willow cats are adorable. Thanks for hosting.

Linda Mitchell said...

Oh, my goodness...Ian is a hurricane again?! I think this poem, Willow Cats, is my sign that my next cat will be named Willow. It's so sweet! Hugs to you for hosting. I do love poetry piled up like turtles.

Anonymous said...

I love this sweet poem, the idea that pussy willows are furry little cat toes. Brilliant!

Margaret Simon said...

Pussy willows have always intrigued me. That illustration is adorable. I have a grandbaby coming this Christmas, so I will not sign up for the exchange this year. But I do love how you keep this special thing going. Thanks for hosting. My post will hopefully get written.

jama said...

What an adorable poem and picture. Love it! Pussy-willows will never be the same. Thanks for hosting this week! Yours truly, Jama of the furry toes xo

Unknown said...

Thanks for introducing Margaret Widdemer to me, I'll have to check out more of her writing–Love "The Willow Cats" and the art too! And that poor professor sure got an eyeful… Thanks for hosting Tabatha. I'm a bit filled up with this new class I'm teaching so I'm going to see where I'm at by the end of October for the Holiday Swap… Thanks for hosting!

Michelle Kogan said...

I'm the "Unknown" above, thanks, Michelle K.

Matt Forrest Esenwine said...

Cute poem, Tabatha - thanks for sharing (and for hosting)! As a cat person, I especially love the conceit of cats missing heir toes. What an image!

Rose Cappelli said...

Thanks for hosting, Tabatha, and for sharing the Willow Cats poem. So sweet. Love those furry toes!

Linda B said...

Those memes fit these past days, don't they? I was glad to find you, too, Tabatha. Thanks for this dear poem. I love pussywillows, and now I will remember those missing cats! The picture is darling! Thanks for hosting!

Carmela Martino said...

What a great image to go with the fun Willow Cats poem. Thanks for sharing, Tabatha, and for hosting today. My post won't go live for a couple of hours but I'm off to bed now, so hope you won't mind my sharing the link early.

mbhmaine said...

I love pussy willows and the pussy willow poem you shared. And what an adorable illustration! I am sure both will be a hit with my students. (I'm going to have to check out Margaret Widdemer.) You always introduce me to new people and ideas. Thanks for that and for hosting this week. (I'm tempted by the holiday swap but holding off to see how the school year feels a few weeks hence before committing to more. Thanks also for always building our community!)

Amy LV said...

Happy Poetry Friday and thank you for hosting, Tabatha! You always do so with such grace. I was just thinking about pussy willows while placing some honesty (silver dollars) in a vase. These non-flower yet somehow flowery branches are ones I love. I hope that you have a lovely, healthy fall with nary a dumpster fire. xo, a.

Mary Lee said...

Thanks for hosting! My turtle has joined the pile and is basking happily on your log!

Thanks also for the pussy willows. Fun to remember spring's joys as the trees are starting to turn...in our hemisphere. (Do they even have pussy willows in Australia, Kat?)

And finally, thanks for organizing the Holiday Poem Swap. Whether or not we take part, it feels like a group hug...organized by YOU!

Irene Latham said...

Haha, I use that "I hope this email finds you" line all the time! Now I am reconsidering. :) And I love the turtle pile-up. Poetry, indeed. Thank you, Tabatha! xo

Sara said...

I love pussy willows, but never thought to connect them with kitty toes. Thanks so much for hosting, even though the world is a mess right now. Poetry helps; it really does.

Tricia said...

That meme made me laugh out loud. Thank you, I so needed that today! And thank you for sharing a new to me poem. I loved it. Finally, thanks for rounding us up! Have a great weekend.

Karen Edmisten said...

Ha! The memes made me laugh. Your post found me drinking a LOT of coffee. :D The Widdemer poem was so cute. I had never read it. And the illustration is delightful.

Thanks, and thanks for hosting!

Patricia Franz said...

Love the wonderment of the pussy willow poem...I'm off to wonder about the squirrels competing for winter space in my flower boxes. Thanks again for all your wonderful art and poetry musings! Love your blog!

laurasalas said...

Hahaha on the meme. Too funny. And I love pussy willows, though I call them catkins. Kitty related either way! Thanks for hosting, Tabatha :>)

Sarah Grace Tuttle said...

Thank you so much for your post! The memes gave a much-needed smile, and the poem was delightful. Pussy willows and I go way back, so this was a special delight.

Gail Aldous said...

Tabatha, I have loved pussy willows since I was a young girl, so I thought the fun poem was clever! Love that illustration! I have two cats and I adore anything to do with cats. I am curious if someone like me, who doesn't have a blog can participate in the holiday swap? Thank you for your inspiration.

Gail Aldous said...

PS I love your turtle pile-up pic! They are so cute.

Tabatha said...

Hi Gail! You don't need a blog to participate in the holiday swap! You only need to want to swap. Email me!

Heidi Mordhorst said...

Tabatha, thank you for piling us up here like turtles on the floating poetry log (alongside which the pussywillows). I'm looking forward to rock-jumping from definito to definito...and I think I will once again pass on the poem swap. (Sadly it creates a kind of pressure for me that I don't enjoy, though I know that is, as Duncan would say, a "you-problem.") Happy October!

Bridget Magee said...

*swoon* The Willow Cats poem is a delight, Tabatha.
As is your turtle pile PF badge.
And, unfortunately, I can relate too well to your memes. *sigh*
Just getting back into the swing of posting after my loooong hiatus/trip to the US, but don't have anything for this week.
Thanks for hosting and coordinating the swap and your general awesomeness.
(I have 2 days left open for my Poetry Palooza - I'd love to feature one of your amazing 10.10 poems on one of them...just a thought. ;)

Carol Varsalona said...

Tabatha, I do apologize for sending the comment so late. I had it written in the comment box but never sent it off. Having a husband home from hip surgery is filling up my days and nights. The good thing is that he is doing so much better than I thought he would.
Pussy willows are so beautiful at this time of year. The poem you share is full of humor and delight. I love the image of the little furry toes and the other humor you provided. Thank you for hosting PF and organizing the Winter Swap.