{"id":16543,"date":"2024-04-30T14:05:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T19:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/?p=16543"},"modified":"2024-11-26T11:48:56","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T17:48:56","slug":"three-poems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2024\/04\/30\/three-poems\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Poems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-765c4724 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61556140010887\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/boudin_mcneese\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong><strong>Cat O\u2019 Nine Tales&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Ann Howells<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cats domesticated themselves<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 9000 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">My neighbor\u2019s cats are Powderpuff,<br>Queen of Sheeba, &amp; Sugar Dumpling.<br>Their eyes glow like vitreous amber.<br>They loudly order dinner, stay<br>perpetually stoned on canned salmon.<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My cat, silent &amp; soot-colored, explores<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; unknown spaces, answers to no one.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Green eyes seek secret mouse-passages<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; he\u2019ll stalk on stealthy fog feet<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; when only night creatures are awake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">My neighbor\u2019s cats line the windowsill,&nbsp;<br>like a row of Toby jugs, utter vaguely<br>feline sounds deep in their throats<br>as they dream of devouring mice.<br>But mice grow plump, complacent.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My cat\u2019s raspy pink tongue stays busy&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; washing his enormous glossy pelt.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He curls, an over-sized croissant,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; peers beyond my fa\u00e7ade,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; but keeps my secrets &amp; his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>April Joy&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Downy ears. Dark expressive eyes.<br>Furrowed forehead. She yodels,<br>or more accurately, bugles \u2013<br>different than a hound\u2019s throaty moan.<br>And did I mention<br>she opens doors? Our mystery dog.<br>Our Heinz 57. Our who-done-it,<br>rescued from the pound.<br>Exuberance earned her the name Joy.<br>Cat-like and lithe<br>she pursues mole and gecko,<br>snatches butterflies from the air,<br>low-flying sparrows,<br>and just week she pranced inside,<br>snake dangling her jaw.<br>Without hesitation my daughter instructed,<br><em>Take the snake to Grandma,<\/em><br>which, of course, she did,<br>dropped it at my feet \u2013<br>a tiny garden-variety that we released.<br>But Joy, true to her name,<br>delights in excitement, enthusiasm, commotion,<br>repeats the scene twice.<br>And it\u2019s only April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>Who Rescued Whom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">He walks on sneakered paws,<br>ears folded in a perfect V \u2013<br>envelope containing a love letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">He leaves fringed prints<br>across my patio, sings arias<br>reaching high C.<br><br>He can wiggle his eyebrows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">For walkies, he crouches,<br>springs forward with a hop<br>like a large cottontail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Stubbed tail set to vibrate<br>never sweeps papers<br>from the coffee table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">He dances for his dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">He requests attention \u2013<br>thrusts a wet nose to my knee,<br>gives soft pink kisses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">When I settle with a book<br>and glass of wine, he snuggles \u2013<br>heat-seeking missile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">His eyes are chocolate kisses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Dedication<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The cat, unfortunately, is no longer with us. The dog in &#8220;April Joy&#8221; is my daughter&#8217;s. The dog in &#8220;Who Rescued Whom&#8221; is my own spoiled little mini-Schnauzer (Patterson).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"671\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/Biker-Patterson-671x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/Biker-Patterson-671x1024.jpg 671w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/Biker-Patterson-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/Biker-Patterson-768x1172.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/Biker-Patterson-1006x1536.jpg 1006w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/04\/Biker-Patterson.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 671px) 100vw, 671px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Ann Howells<\/strong> edited <em>Illya\u2019s Honey<\/em> for eighteen years. Recent books: <em>So Long As We Speak Their Names<\/em> (Kelsay Books, 2019) and <em>Painting the Pinwheel Sky<\/em> (Assure Press, 2020). Chapbooks: <em>Black Crow in Flight<\/em>, Editor\u2019s Choice \u2013Main Street Rag, 2007 and <em>Softly Beating Wings<\/em>, 2017 William D. Barney winner (Blackbead Books). Her work appears <em>Plainsongs<\/em>, <em>Schuylkill Valley Journal<\/em>, and <em>I-70 Review<\/em> among other small press and university journals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>__________<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"438\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg 438w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1-300x145.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2024\/04\/30\/the-cat-boy\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"16539\"> Back<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2024\/04\/30\/three-poems-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"16554\">Next <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To learn more about submitting your work to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/boudin-submissions\/\">Boudin<\/a><\/em> or applying to McNeese State University&#8217;s Creative Writing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/mfa-application-submissions\/\">MFA program<\/a>, please visit Submissions for details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cat O\u2019 Nine Tales&nbsp;&nbsp; Ann Howells __________ &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cats domesticated themselves&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 9000 years ago. My neighbor\u2019s cats are Powderpuff,Queen of Sheeba, &amp; Sugar Dumpling.Their eyes glow like vitreous amber.They loudly order dinner, stayperpetually stoned on canned salmon.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My cat, silent &amp; soot-colored, explores&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; unknown spaces, answers to no one.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Green eyes seek secret mouse-passages&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; he\u2019ll&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[205],"tags":[75,145],"class_list":["post-16543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boudin-april-24-pet","tag-boudin","tag-poetry-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16543"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18020,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16543\/revisions\/18020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}