Saturday 19 August 2017

The Assassin


A poem on the joys of owning cats, if in fact it is possible to own a cat!

The Assassin

Briefly the silence is broken,
the click - clack of the flap,
then nothing.
Peripheral vision might catch a flicker
or a deepening shadow
as he slips through the kitchen
not wanting to see or be seen.
Later; much later,
you'll find him in your favourite chair
curled in a sleek ball
eyes closed,
daring you to stroke him
with his nonchalant air.
And there on the floor
an unstuffed trophy lies,
surrounded by its own feathers
having uttered its last tweet.

John Carré Buchanan
19 August 2017


If you click on the link below you can listen to me read this poem.

30 comments:

  1. I look forward to hearing this one, John.

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    1. I'm looking forward to the Open mic myself Julian, Thanks for your comment.

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  2. If only other tweeters suffered the same fate...

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    1. Hi J Cosmo, Thanks for your comment, hopefully they don't think the same way about bloggers ;-)

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  3. "his nonchalant air."...aha..the very cat itself :)

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    1. Hi Sumana, thanks for your comment, glad I captured it for you.

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  4. I think of America's Tweeter in Chief as I read your poem, and wonder what cat is wily and strong enough to bring him down.

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    1. Hi MMT, thanks for your comment, wouldn't that be good for the rest of the world;-)

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  5. It is nature's way and yet the trophy on the floor surrounded by its own feathers is such a tragic picture...

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  6. My kitty is also a "killer," I have posted "beware," signs everywhere. I have had cats in my life, all my life, but nothng preparedme for this one. Great piece!!! And no you cannot own a cat. Have you read Richard Kippling's, The Cat Walks Alone? I always think of it, when thinking about cats.

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    1. Hi Annell, thank you for your comment. Yes I have read Kipling, he is one of my favorite authors.

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  7. I smiled all the way from "if in fact it is possible to own a cat." LOL. And your response to Cosmo, as I had had the same thought about a certain tweeter.

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    1. Hi Sherry, Thanks for your kind comment, I'm glad you bought a smile to your face.

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  8. Ah, the 'joys' of owning a cat....you have characterized his personality quite well, I think. After his assassination he can rest peacefully & arrogantly, as only a cat can! Smiles.

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  9. Good poem...I agree with Mary, "the joys" of owning a cat :)

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  10. Ah man! I was hoping for a rat or a mouse : not a "tweet" : ) ...unless you were being cryptic of the current "Trend"
    ZQ

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    1. Hi ZQ, thanks for your comment. There was a temptation to take a more cryptic route, but on this occasion I decided not to give the orange chump the time of day ;-)

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  11. Wow! I had a hunter cat. This is exactly right! I stopped filling the bird feeders.

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    1. Hi Susan, Thank you for your comment, I'm glad I hit the spot.

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  12. Oh yes... we do forget what our pets can do... love the way you wrote it as a conceit.

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    1. Hi Brudberg, thank you for your kind comment. I'm glad you like the style I used.

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  13. We've an orange cat who is at the same time haughty, superior ... and needy! I loved your poem. How he loves you to bring his "prize" to your chair!

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  14. It is hard to imagine the hunting aspect of our pets. Love this, John.

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    1. Hi Sara, Thank you for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem.

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  15. I don't think one can own a cat as they walk in mysterious ways.

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    1. Hi Trudessa, thank you for your comment, I suspect that you are right.

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I really appreciate constructive feedback. If you are able to comment it would be most grateful.