A short poem about an animal

[kellyrfineman]

Our assignment for this month was from Laura Purdie Salas: write a short poem (6 lines or fewer) about an animal, using all three of these words: spike, roof, shadow.

My first thought was to write about a baby pangolin, because have you seen a picture of a baby pangolin?

Comments

Kathryn Apel

[ext_4832990]

Beautiful! Love that last line. A last line is everything, in a poem! And if you hadn't said what it was, I would have imagined that baby pangolin(???) was a concrete garden ornament/mythical creature!

Re: Kathryn Apel

[kellyrfineman]

Aren't they adorable? They often look a little apologetic (at least in photos).

[lpsalas]

Oh my gosh--haha! You totally had me salivating for a baby pangolin poem:>) But I adore cats, and this is wonderful. That last line--whew! And I loved how you used the roof idiom to show her domesticity, her indoor-ness, which makes the ending EVEN better!

[kellyrfineman]

I just didn't feel up to doing the research on pangolins -- LOL!

[ext_1565055]

And she "twitches" without seeming to! You've shown the cats I know wonderfully, Kelly. Amazingly, I'm sharing an old X.j. Kennedy poetry book & he has written a pangolin poem. Until I read it, I'd never heard of this animal, & now you've shared the cutest pic of one. Thanks for all!

[kellyrfineman]

I've spotted some pangolin photos online over the past few months, and know little to nothing about them apart from them being ADORABLE and improbable in photos. And how cool is X.J. Kennedy, as always?

pangolin

[ext_3178165]

Ha ha -- that pangolin tease!

LOVE your cat poem, though, of course.
Especially that felt bird....

Re: pangolin

[kellyrfineman]

I did choose my icon for this post on purpose -- I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. And in real life, the felt bird no longer has a head. O_o

[ext_830274]

You've managed to get layers of meaning into those six lines, so that I keep having to read it again. Wonderful word picture of your kitty!

[kellyrfineman]

I am so excited you are back! And thank you for the kind words!