The obstinate calico queen

She rules over rosebush hideouts,

rock parapets,
and fortified fences.

Her silky mixed form
stalks the garden at night
with luminescent emerald eyes.

Insatiable and insular,
myopic and inscrutable,
she rarely reveals
her perspective.

Confident but cautious,
she'll sleuth and slink
she'll hide,
and she'll think,
and hardly blink.

Mice, she dispenses with.
Intruders, she commences.
She's furtive and furry,
she's haughty,
naughty.
Yet empathy leaks
from her warm, curled nuzzle.

As a warrior,
she's gallant,
and her war cry warns:
this yard is off-limits
do not pass.

She's ready to leap 'cross the lawn like a bullet
when the bell for her buffet is rung.

She's ever so playful,
ever so cuddly,
this Calico Queen
long may she reign.

Author's Note

I've been told a calico cat is normally female. :D

Reviews

[MomzillaNC]

Beautifully crafted poem. And yes, Calicos are usually female, and when they are male, they are almost always sterile, apparently. My mother used to breed Persian cats, trying for calicos. She did once get a male calico, but he was sterile. She bred half a dozen female calicos from her attempts over a period of about 10 years.

[Relic]

Thank you for the review, Momzilla. It's much appreciated.

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome.

[Papaya]

Your words choices are wonderful and the entire poem is lovely.
She reminds me of a strong woman protecting what is hers.
A watchful mother, or a doting wife. Maybe even just the queen of the neighborhood watch club.
Love it.

[Relic]

I appreciate your review and visit, Ana. Thanks.

[Papaya]

Welcome! :)

[wordman]

the watch dog of the house and yard looking for all predators,but obstinate could be someone on here,or a cpl of someones,,lol

[Relic]

Oh, I'm sure there are. Thanks, Wordman.

[wordman]

you`re welcome

[Chris Shaw]

I am very much a cat person Tim, so enjoyed this poem muchly and appreciated the behaviour traits of your feline. Really enjoyed the internal rhyme and your choice of vocab. Cats rule the house. Yes long may she reign. A skilled write. All the best.

Chris

[Relic]

Thanks very much, Chis. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem.

[Inessa]

This one reads like a piece of whimsy aimed at someone. Not a cat person, myself. I much prefer the loyalty of dogs, but you have portrayed the Calico cat as the queen of her domain and all she surveys. You painted her picture very well. Some excellent word choice here, too.

[Relic]

Thanks Inessa. There was a cat that used to come into my yard at night. Now a new one does. haha

[Robert Trakofler]

Cats are indeed very hard to read sometimes. Mine is feral and doesn't trust (most) humans he was dropped off by his mother in my store when he was a kitten so his human bonding time had past and he hissed up a storm for a day before i could capture him and feed him kitten milk so I am the only human he trusts:/ what a great depiction of a queen cat you made in this poem... long may she reign

[Relic]

Thank you Robert. :-)

[barleygirl]

Best cat poem I've ever read! I'm not a cat person & I could relate to this heavily. Had one cat for a couple years before she ran away . . . she started out being wildish & it was never about holding her or petting her . . . I loved to watch her forays in the wilderness around my cabin, stalking, rocking, and balking! Your V4 is so excellent, the way it sounds, the jazzy way it reads, plus it's so spot-on true & painting the feeling of watching a feline prowl (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Relic]

Thanks for your input, Margie. :)

[poetgurl]

WOW, so powerful and intriguing, i enjoyed this write, thought it was cute. Nicely written

[Relic]

Thank you, Kimmie. :)

[redzone]

there is both a cat and dog living here Stitches (the cat) and Daisy (the dog)…. it took a while, but Stitches has finally warmed up to me as I am her favorite scratching post and she now sits on my lap (especially when I am on the computer) and pretty soon it may just be her commenting on the poems at WC.... meow meow meaning she likes your poem Relic...

[Relic]

Thank you, Redzone.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, they are Calico's are normally female...I have a Torti...second one in a row...and only one out of 2,000 is Male.
the orange tabby's are almost all male.
strange isn't it...
i really like this...i am a cat person and have had a cat since 7th grade...

6 all told...

[Relic]

Thanks, Jacob.