Cat

 

[Cat]

 

“Guidelines when Painting“

 

Pierre Bonnard, detail of ‘White Interior (Le Cannet)’ (1932)

 

The carpet must needs be tigerish fire,

symmetry a surprise that never tires –

light, juxtapose with dark to describe desires.

 

The table is a boundary across her view

height of leap, then an object avenue –

colour how litheness darts, slides, waits anew.

 

The teapot has never been more resolute

counterpoint to the cat arch, lively, cute –

make a galleon past which a yacht might scoot.

 

The eyes, closest to the mind in her head

pupils full moons, then thin as thread –

show her very thought in a thousand unsaids.

 

The spine curves through space on all fours

from under chest-of-drawers through French doors –

illustrate how her moving body is first cause.

 

The tail makes a trail in the air, a sign

of the general mood of the solid feline -

attempt to suggest a shrewd curl, a benign whine.

 

The canvas stretched uncracked from side to side

is the room where cat frolics, flirts and hides –

allow considerable contortions, and pride.

 

The brush with life is like the brush of the cat

touch and go the whole time, day in day out -

copy the cat out of wonder at where it’s at.

 

The paint turns nine lives into an organised herd,

there’s what will occur, what occurs and occurred –

ask it to say a few previously unheard words.