Poems & Purrs

Greetings, friends!

I recently learned that two of my poems earned first place prizes in this year’s Poetry Society of Texas Annual Awards. I’m proud to share that “Upon Running into a Former Sweater at Goodwill” and “Eating the Watermelon Moon” will appear in PST’s A Book of the Year 2023.

While I can’t give you a sneak peek at the winning poems yet, I’d like to share one that did not win a prize, but which I’m fond of for personal reasons.

As you may remember, I spent July searching for, finding, rescuing, and fostering a litter of stray kittens. After we found homes for the first five, hubby and I decided to keep the last kitten. Indigo is 5 1/2 months old now and fills our home with a warm, furry, bouncy, playful joy. He had his neutering surgery a couple of weeks ago, and it reduced his energy levels by 0%. Now we are in the fun stage where every other day or so we find one of his baby teeth, often in our clothing, as he likes to remove the loose ones by biting our arms. 🙄

I wrote this poem back in August, when Indie was a baby. It still makes me smile, and so does he, every day. I hope you enjoy it. 💙

Indigo

You are the I in Roy G. Biv
the color of a lake at twilight
the shade of wonder

Light plays on your silky fur
like sunshine plays on waves
like you play—
bursts of joy and stillness
blending caution and chance

Your eyes are full moons
absorbing all the new
soaking it up 
like rain during a drought

Each reach of your paw
brings just-born delight
and knowledge
of your small universe

Oh, Indie,
your kitten-ness chases 
the gloom away
reveals an innocence
this world is missing

Never stop learning
Never stop romping
Never stop purring

So much depends
upon your little blue
soul

© Carie Juettner, 2022