Cat-World Problems

People are starving in Africa,
but the cat is at his bowl
complaining about the
vast sliver of bowl
daring to peak through
cat biscuits

There's murder on the news
but the cat is at the door
complaining about the rain -
and what are you going to do
about this climate change?

You can't deny it,
you know it's serious
when it's a cat-world problem
 because the fatter the cat

the bigger the noise




A.J.Ponder


P.S. Although of course neither of our cats are fat - they're just...big boys. And absolutely gorgeous...if a little demanding.

P.S. A.J is the author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files

 

 More cat poems:

Accounting for Herbert

Queen of the Chair

The Piano Twins (cute kittens) 

Find my stories and support my writing on ko-fi and tell me which poems you'd like to see in my upcoming poetry book—2024: https://ko-fi.com/ajponder

 

 

 

Travelling

It's a dangerous business
travelling
the empty path
of dreams

sunlit as it is
you'll never see the
danger
until you're bundled

into mouldering blankets
and dragged
into
shadow

there's no telling
where you'll be swept off to-
mountaintop or
Khazad-dûm

you could fly
or fall

and never stop


 A.J. Ponder

On a more upbeat note, our family went to the opening of the Rivendell Archway in Kaitoke National Park over the weekend, it was great fun, and we are especially grateful to our "fairy godmother" Kristi Klein who made our gorgeous elf costumes from dresses she found at the SPCA op shop.


For more photographs of the event go here to my Wizard's Guide to Wellington site. https://wizardsguide.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/pass-through-elven-ruins-and-discover-a-world-of-magic

Poem inspired by the Lord of the Rings quote: “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to.” (Frodo Baggins about Bilbo, The Fellowship of the Ring,) Which I think was itself partly taken from "The Hobbit."


This is not the first Kaitoke, Lord of the Rings inspired poem. My original Kaitoke poem (published Quiet Places 2005) starts...

I run as lithe as any elven maid,
through forest steam and...

and is here at http://anafflictionofpoetry.blogspot.co.nz/2010/07/nz-poetry-day-kaitoke.html

Wishing you all a little magic, and look out for more fantastic poems at the Tuesday Poem Hub

Pirate's Post: Here be Dragons

Yo ho
and there's a map to
where the skeletons lie,
sunning themselves
on the sand and
Spanish gold
lying
at the bottom
of the deep blue sea

Yo ho
you think you know
where x lies
but a jaunty tilt
is all the dragons need
for misdeeds and
misdirection
sending the unlucky
straight to the
skeleton's rocks
lying
at the bottom
of the seven seas

Yo ho
I'll wave the flag of fear
with crossbones
and let it fly
over the water
with a jaunty tilt -
It's a dangerous boat
on a treacherous sea
but here be dragons,
and if you're watching me
you'll miss them
amongst the glitter
of gold
on the rocks
at the bottom
of the seventh sea


A.J. Ponder

I know it's late, but I do hope you enjoy this little pirate piece on the danger of statistics!

A.J. 
Author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files



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Tuesday Poem: Caput Lupinum

Down the highway
through the forest
there's this signpost
to this cabin
in the woods


Turn back

There's a scarecrow
by the signpost
to the
cabin
in the woods

Turn back

Down the highway
through the forest
there's a scarecrow
by the signpost,
warning you
about the
cabin
in the woods

Turn Back Now

So you didn't turn back
and now you're in
the cabin
in the woods
where a wolf's head's
weighing hearts

Close the door

And do not touch
the vaults may be lined with gold
but there are monsters
lurking near the cabin
in the woods
and they eat
highway robbers
with heavy hearts
for breakfast

A.J. Ponder

Obviously, for those that know it, this poem was a little inspired by Joss Whedon's Cabin in the Woods. 

Have a happy Tuesday, and stay on the grid


A.J. 
Author of Quest, Prophecy, Omens, Miss Lionheart and the Laboratory of Death, Wizard's Guide to Wellington, Attack of the Giant Bugs - a You Choose Science Adventure, and The Frankie Files

Find my stories and support my writing on ko-fi   And tell me which poems you'd like to see in my upcoming poetry book—2024: https://ko-fi.com/ajponder

 

 

Watching the Deadlines Fly By

Peeps might have noticed been having a little trouble with deadlines....the Tuesday one in particular, so I wrote this for you today :)

Watching the Deadlines Fly By

The summer sun was shining 
and hay was being made
the ants were trailing one by one
through the ballustrade

The crickets were all chirping
while I fretted in the shade
and yet I noticed none of this
just deadlines to be made

A multitude of deadlines
from half a hundred things
all tied up with sealing wax
and multi-coloured strings

And now I have those deadlines
as pretty as can be,
it's time to watch them rushing by
like bullets from a train,
so I can hear that wooshing noise
flying past again

A.J. Ponder

In memory of Douglas Adams  "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

Red Admirals

Adrift on the tail of summer
winging their way across the summer lawn
to infiltrate the abode of giants

Patrolling the glass confines
with the grace of a stormy sea 
in summer's heat,
until the trap, long since sprung,
has our admirables
battering against unseen walls
trapped

Escape, escape, escape!
There is none.
Paralysed fear
the jaunty wings grow still
as the giant's blunt jaws
gently enfold
and release with naught
but a sprinkling of black scales

A fine trade
for freedom

A.J. Ponder

Yes!!! A last minute poem, a little late for Tuesday! But enjoy your week, and maybe even wing your way to all the wonderful Tuesday poets at tuesdaypoem.blogspot.com/

Ring in the New Year

Ring in the New Year with coffee, and resolutions to be lazy and get more done.

To that end I hope you enjoy my 22 Reasons Living in Wellington will Ruin Your Life

It's at http://wizardsguide.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/22-reasons-living-in-wellington-will-ruin-your-life/ and starts with: Because whatever the weather, or the disaster…blue skies are always just around the corner...

I hope you enjoy Wellington! And of course the amazing promise of a New Year :)

A.J.