Alas the Lord has taken you too soon. We all feel so alone now that you’re gone. These empty hours go on and on and on In mournfulness, my tears in silence strewn.
And such a lovely one ! A bless-ed boon ! A sacred joy for me to muse upon ! One of my tiny springs of Helicon: You gained your little wings this afternoon.
How I remember when you came to us, So filled with fear, so anguished, so in pain, Your precious paw pads, all the front ones scarred, And how you hid with such a tragic fuss. Now I’m the one in pain. These hours wane; You, now above us, in the heavens starred.
Author notes
In memory of Zane Pawgustine the Patient. The veterinarian found quite an horrendous tumor. I hope the rest of the holidays aren’t going to be so sad. At least now he’s not in pain.
Anatole Flagtree had a balloon: Anatole wanted to get to the moon. How long would it take him to get to the moon ? Anatole thought he could get there by noon.
He took his straw hat, put on little white spats And his shiny black shoes that had soles like a cat’s. He buttoned his coat that had blue cheetah spots. He tied his bow tie that had red polka dots.
Anatole thought he could get to the moon So he packed up a lunch that could feed a platoon: With olives and pickles, anchovies and cheese
He thought he could fly just as long as you please.
He put in his pocket some catnip for luck And under his paw his old bright yellow duck. He polished his claws and he washed his mustache And before he departed he emptied the trash.
When he shut his front door it was still very dark. He had a long walk just to get to the park. In the park in the dark was his giant balloon That was puffed up and ready to float to the moon.
Since he wanted to get a head start for the moon He’d have to leave early to get there by noon. When he got to the park it was just before dawn. The balloon waited there on the edge of the lawn.
His magic balloon was not new and not old And was colored in plaid that was brilliant and bold. His huge wicker basket was fine to behold And was covered with ribbons of velvet and gold.
The geese at the park who had filled his balloon Honked to Anatole “Sir, can you fly to the moon ? Do you honestly know if your dreams will come true ? Is the moon made of cheese? Is it orange ? Is it blue ?”
Well Anatole knew that he didn’t quite know Just how far on his trip to the moon he could go, But he said to the flock, with a wink in his eye, “I don’t rightly know but I’m willing to try !”
He waved to the flock lifting off through the air And he floated right over the little town square. Old Mrs. McTavish saw Anatole fly And she yelled to her friends “There’s a cat in the sky !!!!”
So Anatole waved as he climbed like a kite At the people who gathered to witness the sight. “Good luck to you Sir” Shouted all down below. “Here’s a feather for luck !” Cawed a flying by crow.
The meadows were blooming, the skies were bright blue And the trees grew much smaller the higher he flew. The woods far below were a glorious green And a silvery river completed the scene.
Small birds flew in circles around the balloon. He was dreaming of nibbling. it wasn’t near noon. He grew very hungry and ate up his lunch, Including the cream puffs and tropical punch.
Well…. Anatole had such a marvelous time Just bobbing and soaring, as fine as a climb, He forgot all about flying up to the moon For he certainly couldn’t arrive there by noon.
He felt very full and curled up for a nap With his little old duck cuddled up on his lap And he dreamed of fantastical marvelous things Like eagles all wading and fishes with wings.
When Anatole woke day was turning to night And he thought about calling an end to his flight He knew there were many more days he could roam So his chick-a-dee friends guided Anatole home.
He landed his craft on his spot in the park. The moon was so full and the sky was so dark. The geese on the ground all honked out in a flock As our Anatole calmly leaped out on a rock.
“Did you get to the moon ? Did you fly very high ? Did you see many butterflies high in the sky ? Are you going to fly your balloon on more flights ? Did you rise in the sky to incredible heights ?”
Then Anatole twirled his mustache and he thought: He had munched on each crunch of the food he had brought And he had lots of fun and had flown to a height And he certainly had an enjoyable flight.
So he purred and he mewed to his waddling friends About all of his hopes and his dreams and his ends “I had planned on that morning to take my balloon And to sail and to soar and to land on the moon
I had packed up my lunch with anchovies and cheese For I knew I could fly up as far as you please. I thought that perhaps I could get there by noon: I never thought sunset could get here so soon
And I didn’t expect to see so many things ! I was so amazed to see fishes with wings !! The sun was so bright ! Such a dazzling noon ! Yet I ate a fine lunch in my soaring balloon !
“If you follow your dreams, if you reach for the sun You will find satisfaction and plenty of fun. I’d such a fine time on my flight to the moon That I promise to try it again very soon !”
So Anatole Flagtree went home and to bed. He plumped up his pillows and lay down his head. He dreamed every dream and he wished every wish. He waded with eagles and flew with the fish.
A bold little guy with a very big dream May not be as silly as first he might seem. If you pack a great lunch and get in your balloon You just never know when you’ll land on the moon !!!
Author notes
This is a very old one retooled. I’ll probably keep taking nips and tucks in it.
As for kindnesses, even a cat who wants to get to the moon in a balloon is someone to respect by geese, chickadees, people, crows, eagles and flying fish. All treat him with compassion and respect and lovingkindness … and he inspires them all !
Flying fish: Exocoetidae. Technically their “wings” are actually fins and they can soar for a great distance.
Chickadees: North American birds whose song sounds like Chickadeedeedeedeedee !!!!!!!
That’s a preliminary sketch I’ve done of Anatole himself.
The Furry Princess Fairy’s rarely seen: She rises in the glory of the morn And tiptoes pure as dreams are ever born Upon an emerald lawn forever green. The grasses kiss her toesies, each toe bean And every dewdrop weeps, because, forlorn, She glides above them, soft and dry, airbourne As pansy petals…. and she’s never mean !
Her pure antennae whiskers rise above Her magical magnificent demesne: They listen to the other elves who glide Invisibly around her. We know of Just one most recent sighting and we lean Towards heaven knowing that we’re near her pride.
Author notes
Recently a friend posted a remarkable photograph on Facebook, proving she really exists! She resembles a meowgnificent cat right in front of two silver dandelion flowers !
I hear a sudden crash and I go numb. I hope that no one’s hurt! Another lamp? Aw, Blaze! You manic moth-hunter, you scamp! How many have you shipwrecked, smashing chum?
Do you expect some high encomium? Some florid phrase to glorify your stamp, Wherein, you dashing enemy of the amp, I celebrate Blaze Panda-monium?
The trick is you’re so passionately sweet! You with your pink nosed decent panda face Are so devotedly affectionate That even though you in your madcap race Bring lamps, drapes, crystal to a sad defeat, You charm us so that we don’t mind one bit.
Tripod Goes to ChurchTripod is an amputee,who lives behind our church.He greets us as we come and goand doesn’t ask for much.No one seems to know exactlywhy he is disabled,but he doesn’t let it slow him down;his speed is the stuff of fables.Lately as the service endsand the doors are opened widehe strolls into the narthexthen runs all the way inside.He takes a seat down at the frontand stares up at the altar.Through closing words and closing hymnhis attention doesn’t falter.He’s always there on Sunday.He seems the most devout.While sitting at the altarno one wants to toss him out.He’s really quite a charmer.Folks are bringing him cat food.The choir sings as he’s walking out,God Will Take Care of YouSo what happened to Tripod? He very abruptly stopped showing up at church and, as with any member who has been faithful and stops coming to services, the congregation was worried about him. Our minister, maybe going a bit above and beyond his duties, tried to find out the fate of our faithful cat.It seems Tripod DID actually have a family that lived down the road and behind our church. The family relocated and, thankfully, took Tripod with them.Putting an end to speculation about the fate of Tripod, our minister announced, “We can assume he’s going to another church.”
Photo not an actual photo of Tripod – Used for Illustration purposes
“Her fur’s as dark as midnight’s lovely gloom And when she walks in silence through the night Her paw pads kiss the earth with rare delight: She’s so sublime and elegant a bloom !
A flower of all felines, with her grace A magical enchantment full of dreams ! Oh, how she has survived through life’s extremes ! I can’t imagine how she bears this place !
She was abandoned by some felon. She A house cat oh so civilized and rare ! She knew how to besot with every stare, From those delightful eyes and from each tree.
I know we’re different. I’m like moonlight, bright With silver feathers and sublime repose; And she? She has those magic sable toes… I love her. Life can be passion’s delight.
So how will I comprise a starlight ode Enchanting my sweet damsel princess queen? She needs to rule in a secure demesne: I’ve made a nest for her because it’s snowed.”
” This glorious full moon lights up these skies And I must hoot a holler to my kin For howling dogs have raised a hellish din Against a fuzzy friend with glowing eyes.
I know we all can solve this! We’re the wise. I’ll summon all my nest mates. Glide on in! I need swift counsel! Can we all begin To summon all the elves? Curs terrorize
My darling dazzling furry feline friend, So elegant and graceful. This must end! Perhaps they can this dismal conflict rend Or grant us aid: whatever they intend !”
And now you know just how it came about: Just how the elves were called. Strange couple? No. They made a purrfect family, although It took a miracle: for elves to scout
The earth for emerald coracles and then A magic cruise to make it come to pass That they were one: this gorgeous lad and lass: Their marriage Aslan blessed with roared Amen !
27
