Spook

it's tricky tricky tricky

You’re my little Spook.

Watch you gallop around, chasing

dreams dancing in the air.

Maybe you have an imagination

strong enough to conjure butterflies

out of nothing, matter coming from matter.

 

Jump up, stand your ground, yell to me

that you’re big, rough, and tough!

Cry the songs of your black brothers,

singing on the wings of the dead.

Piercing yellow eyes disappear in

ebony pupils so wide they swallow me.

 

My tough little boy, I’m sorry your

daddy named you Spook because you’re black,

but I’m not racist, you’re just a Halloween cat!

Author's Note

I really hope I didn't offend anyone. I was just staring at my cat next to me and thought I would write about his name. My ex named him Spook because he was racist, and the name ended up sticking. I kept it because the cat would only come to it, and he had this habit when he got hyper of arching his back like a Halloween cat. I know it's kinda vague, but I was going for you not knowing it was a cat really, as if I WAS being racist, in order to see that it's all kinda me making a joke out of my ex being such a racist. idk, it doesn't work very well to me... but I like it. what do you think?

Reviews

[Naomi Montana Walsh]

My cat is named Spooky, we found him on Halloween and he looks like those cats on Halloween cards, it's not a racist thing ..anyhow..I think sometimes we use poetry to address issues we have with the way others think..I think it could come off as racist..but for you it is just a name and it is not the name here it is your feelings

[Carlie]

You do so well with the imagery in this poem! Your descriptions make the poem come to life! So creative. You definetely had me going.

[An owl on the moon]

There is such a dancing, gleeming beauty in the expressions you've chosen. Your cat comes playfully, profoundly alive! I appreciate your description and your remarks... Thank you for sharing...

[zendikar]

a very nifty way to write about your cat i dont think, with the authors not especially, that anyone will be offended

[Ryan Falzon - Tymon]

This was quite funny! The last two lines are quite cute. It gives a sense of pure love towards the cat, the fact that you kept the cat after it not responding to anything else is quite a feat, I've known more then 1 person who got rid of pets because of exs.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

OMG you got me good on this one... I certainly didn't see the ending coming... so when you read it all together to me it is just some light hearted fun. i rather enjoyed it.

[Augustus]

The author's note was very useful... :)
Coming to the poem, the imagery is fantastic, especially in the first stanza.
"dreams dancing in the air.
Maybe you have an imagination
strong enough to conjure butterflies"
Absolutely loved these lines.... The playful nature of a cat is so amply manifested here...

And also the description of its eyes...
"Piercing yellow eyes disappear in
ebony pupils so wide they swallow me."
Waxing eloquent in adoration.... :)

If I had to put in a word of criticism (and its tough to criticize such a lovely and lively poem), it would be that the end was too commonplace for the breathtakingly beautiful beginning... Possibly, imho, the lines at the end could have been done away with (as they are explained anyway in the author's note) and replaced by something which would live up to the imagery of the first stanza...but that does not take anything away from the beauty of the lines I have quoted. Great write!