Happy Monday Houston, The Mad Houstonian, here.
Welcome to Day 27 of the Poetry A Day Challenge by Robert Lee Brewer, of the wonderful Poetic Asides Blog, at Writer's Digest.
For today’s prompt:
Write a massive poem. The poem itself could be massive in size and length. Or it could take on a massive problem, describe a supermassive black hole, or praise a massive bowl of ice cream covered in chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
Remember: These prompts are just springboards; you have the freedom to jump in any direction you want. In other words, it’s more important to write a new poem than to stick to the prompt."
(My Day 1 poem is here)
So...what did I do?
On the 4th of July, 2013, on my cat blog, my original muse, Mr. Nikita, wrote a poem.
The star of the piece survived a massive challenge, hee, hee!
Inspired by a song he saw sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford, that intrigued him for some reason, he went searching for the lyrics, and set to work writing a tribute to his mentor, the cat that was living with me when I rescued Nikita from the shelter as a kitten.
As he wrote at the time:
"With humble apologies to Mr. Ford, and dedicated to my mentor, the old warrior named Tom (1986-1998): Tom was an outdoor cat Daddy's family had since birth and the ol' warrior taught me everything I needed to know, things Daddy couldn't teach me...not being a cat, and all.
Sixteen Coyotes by Nikita Cat
Nine times a man cat’s life goes thud
Though his body’s just made outta muscle and blood
Muscle and blood and skin and bones
Adventure toms do seek and a life that's long
You outfight sixteen coyotes, what do you reap
Another day older and more time to sleep
Ceiling Cat don't you call me 'cause I won’t go
I just want to snitch me some tuna from the ol’ fish store
I was born one mornin' when the cock didn’t crow
Mom had her litter in a hovel and I was the last of the line
She had five sons of which only I lived past nine
Now, at 20, the young ones say "man, you’re old"
You outfight sixteen coyotes, what do you reap
Another day older and more time to sleep
Ceiling Cat don't you call me 'cause I won’t go
I just want to snitch me some tuna from the ol’ fish store
I was born one mornin', none in the litter lookin’ the same
Fightin' and trouble are what brought me fame
I’ve been on the street with no break, living by my wits, I ain’t lyin’
Cain't no-a creature, 2-legged or 4, make me walk any straight line
You outfight sixteen coyotes, what do you reap
Another day older and more time to sleep
Ceiling Cat don't you call me 'cause I won’t go
I just want to snitch me some tuna from the ol’ fish store
If you see me comin', a berth give me wide
A lotta coyotes didn't, a lotta coyotes died
A will of iron, claws of steel
If the front ones don't a-get you
Then the back ones will
You outfight sixteen coyotes, what do you reap
Another day older and more time to sleep
Ceiling Cat don't you call me 'cause I won’t go
I just want to snitch me more tuna from the ol’ fish store
Next Up -- Poetry A Challenge #28
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