"I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes..."
So let's identify them: Hairytux (closest); Tux, behind Hairy; Queen Noire, on bench; Ms. Grayboy, who surprised us with her well-disguised gender until we had them all trapped, neutered, vaccinated and returned by a wonderful local non-profit group. But, by then she was already named Grayboy.
I think of their little mother, her sad and frightened expression and pendulous, exhausted teats, heading off in tall grass to heal. We buy milk, and it has dates stamped on it, but there's no expiration date on the healing process. I felt a kinship there. Yes, I told her they'd be ok. She couldn't possibly understand. I too am a child of Nature. In winter I froze. In autumn I dried, puckered and fell from trees. SO:
Innuendo or out-you(r)-window?
What does it matter?
I prefer the former far
Less than the latter.
They are beauties, Geo and I bet you love each and every one. Momma cats adore their offspring until a certain time when they are done with them and want to go off to have some more. We have had a similar situation. Bucs appeared in our backyard woods about six or seven years ago and was probably abandoned by her owner. She left her first litter in our gazebo. We gathered them all up and gave them to a women who fosters kittens. Over a three year period, she had five more litters and deposited them all at our house. We found homes for them all (including ours), except for one litter which we caught too late and were deemed too old (5 months) and feral for adoption They, along with their now no longer in the kitten business mother, have lived and eaten well on or under our deck since. We have provided momma and her two offspring shelter and love. They give us joy.
ReplyDeleteDear Arleen, Shelter, love and, in return, joy. Sounds like a good deal to me.
DeleteThat is what I mean, Geo., when I write "be kind".
ReplyDeleteYou and Norma are kind. I am convinced that the mother cat understood what you said (I even believe in plants understanding us - ok - they do it in a mildly muddled way, but nevertheless...)
I will look up that Wallace Stevens poem. Not knowing it I dare to start with an impression I have: first I listen to the blackbird. Every morning I stand on my balcony with a cup of tea in my hand and listen.
Of course I look too, being the utterly visual type (and blackbirds stare back - they are very conscious of their territory - did you notice?)
How will they react to four gorgeous little cats? :-)
Thank you, dear Britta. I can only offer my old assessment of the poem --first encountered in high school-- which is contained haiku-like in its 12th part:
Delete"The river is moving.
The blackbird must be flying."
I decided Nature is the language of the universe and all minds and events exploit some kind of quantum coherence that unites matter, motion and meaning. Life.
Such beautiful babies and they owe their lives to their mother and now to you. Here's hoping that poor little mama gets caught and given the treatment so she doesn't have to go through such pain again.
ReplyDeleteI too hope the little mother gets some medical attention, Delores. When I encountered her on my walk, she was so frightened, left so quickly, turned round only when I spoke then headed south. Hopefully one of our neighbors across the fields will trap her and get her some care.
DeleteHuge thanks to you and Norma.
ReplyDeleteOur pleasure and privilege.
DeleteReminds me when Theo Tunderbutt appeared out of nowhere couple of years ago. He is still quite feral, but also comes to sleep on my bed, when I'm not looking because I'm sleeping:) Have been woken up numerous times to "Purr/ Knead Fest" sessions and I don't mind one bit:)Wishing you and your loved ones health and happiness, friend Geo. Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteDear Cat, you're quite right. Although these beautiful creatures never quite lose the instructions of their instincts, they do learn to trust and seek comfort. Kind of amazing when we are so much larger than they. I believe comparative proportional difference could describe the gap between us and dinosaurs. They are quite brave just to meow to us --phonominally brave to sleep beside us.
DeleteThose are very fortunate abandoned kitties, Geo. They look fat, happy, and optimistic. You and Norma are kind and giving people. I have a number of friends who care for feral cats by feeding them and by neutering them. You and they are kitty angels.
ReplyDeleteThanks for introducing me to Stevens' Blackbird poem. I didn't know it. I was walking along Piney Creek yesterday, my only time outside in a week, and the red-winged blackbirds were whistling, trilling, and chooking all through the open space. They're getting ready to nest among the reeds and blushing shrubs. Good thing I got out yesterday because we're in the middle of a snowstorm that may dump 10 inches.
We're seriously self-isolating. I especially have to be careful. I hope that you and Norma are faring well. Please take care of ourselves. The world is a better place with you and Norma in it. I have no doubt that Hairytux, Tux, Queen Noire, and Ms Grayboy would agree! 🐈
Dear Louise, cats do us all a great service. I call them all, collectively, the Rat Patrol --so there's a practical side to the relationship. I don't accord the same adoption to deer-hunters because, although deer can bother gardens, they don't get up in your walls attic. God help you if one of those crashes through your sheetrock ceiling.
DeleteThank you for reminding me of Wallace Stevens, Geo. - wonderful!!! (just read the poem) "it was evening all afternoon".
ReplyDeleteDear Britta, you're welcome! Mr. Stevens published that poem in the mid-1950's. I was just a little boy, but by and by, it helped introduce me to a much bigger world --and greater recognition of things to come.
DeleteOh, my heart - I hope that mama cat recovered, poor thing. Her children have landed on their feet with you and Norma. How beautiful a group they are.
ReplyDelete0_Jenny, mama cat hasn't returned. I'll let you know if she does --but doubt she will. Prairie plays the same function as backstage in theatre: once players exit, their return is decided by uncertain particulars in the script. And yes, they are beautiful.
DeleteA gorgeous family and so perfectly named. Of course I favor Queen Noire. She reminds me of my dear departed Blackwell.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bruce, Noire was named for her affectionate attraction to the garden model of Eiffel Tower, just visible behind her in Norma's photo. She is the precise image of her mother, small but born to a better time --I hope.
DeleteOne of the most interesting things about your mind is your ability to appreciate the dichotomies of life. (You'd totally nail Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy.)
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful that you and Norma have been taking care of those cats, and yes, I think the mama cat knew what she was doing when she left them to your care. Reminds me of my brother. He's been taking care of five feral cats for quite some time. Takes them to the vet regularly, built them their own outdoor space, etc. Yet, he always said he "didn't have any" cats. Or dogs... although a stray dog had the good sense to move in with him, too. When he comes to visit, he can't stay long, because he has to get home to the cats (the cats he "doesn't have") to make sure they're okay. When he moved from Texas to Mississippi, he took all of those critters with him. But he still laughs, and says, "Nah, I don't have any cats..." Dude, you and Norma have cats!
Have a wonderful weekend. Stay well.
Dear Susan, thank you. We've had some good experiences with cats and a pet dog when the children were young but hadn't made more than feral acquaintances since then. This new rat-patrol seems somewhat less than feral now --since Noire crept up and sniffed my shoe yesterday. But I do empathize with your kind brother (sometimes mens' denial is a staple of personal humor). Hope all is going well for you and Smarticus, and that this pan-world medical lockdown hasn't interrupted your household as much as mine. Finally drove to my dr.'s office on the 18th--after no phone call-backs-- and found a closure notice on the door dated 3/13. Had rather awkward (but instructive) time getting a medication renewal authorized this morning. I'll stay as well as I can. You and Smarticus too --deal?
DeleteGood for you for caring for these cats! As for beauty, I don't have a preference, I accept it all as grace.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeff. I consider them an investment in rodent control, but can't help enjoying their attention.
DeletePoor little mama cat. Life is not easy. She picked the right piece of land for sure. Tux and Hairy Tux...it struck me. Crosby and Nash came to mind when I saw them. With Young and Stills in the background. You have an entire cat band.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chicken, I'm pretty sure they can't sing loud enough for popular music, but they have excellent audience eye-contact.
DeleteWe once had a Cat, she was named Ratboy for a similar reason Grayboy got her name. She too came to us as a Feral Cat's only surviving infant from a litter that sadly didn't make it after the Mother Cat was killed in the Factory she'd given birth to them in. Our neighbor worked there and took pity on the frail Kitten that looked more like a Rat than a Kitten, so small, so unlikely to survive. He brought it home since his Cat just had Kittens and he thought perhaps she would adopt it? She didn't and I am such an Easy Mark, I brought her Home... 20 Years later she finally succumbed to what everyone thought she would at Birth... we've owned a lot of Cats but she was my all time Favorite... just don't let any of the others know.
ReplyDeleteDear Dawn, your compassionate and understanding comment is most welcome. 20 years is exceptionally long-lived for a cat. Unfortunately our country road has been widened and I have dealt with many feline casualties. We have lowered our gates and applied finer mesh to fences. Hopefully these measures will help feline lifespans measure favorably with Ratboy. Best wishes.
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