POETS SALON
Tilde (Photo – Kathabela Wilson)
– 10/13/21
Hosted by Kathabela Wilson
leaping into the dollhouse
by our door
to join the menageriea cat named tilde ~
she found us
next door~ Kathabela
Ο Ο Ο
Tortellini eyes the flowers (Photo – Corine Timmer)
Corine Timmer
Out of the Blue?
On the fourteenth of March this year, a tortoise appeared in my life. Judging by the manner in which my dogs were barking, I knew there was a creature in the garden. I didn’t expect a tortoise. I hadn’t dreamt about one or included one on my wish list. But there it was. At first, I didn’t know if it was a terrapin or a tortoise. A visit to my neighbor’s pond made it clear to me that this testudine was not interested in swimming. I left it there though, near the pond, overnight. I promised myself that if it would be in the same place the following morning I would bring it back home. And it was! Since that day I have carried out much research, both online and offline. I have spent hours studying this tortoise to learn more about it. There were moments I wanted to set it free, but experts advised me against that. This species doesn’t occur in the wild where I live.
Then someone suggested that this tortoise entered my life for a reason. That prompted further research into the realms of symbolism and spirituality. I learned that the tortoise is a symbol of peace and patience. When a tortoise appears in one’s life it could be a reminder to ground oneself and one’s energy to Earth. Furthermore, the moon on that day was a waxing crescent. The waxing crescent phase is the moon’s first step toward fullness. What does it mean? Do I need to be more patient and at the same time trust my instincts? Should I take a leap of faith? If I would be superstitious and/or receptive to symbolism, I might believe that this tortoise is a messenger. And you? Can one believe in something until it manifests itself into existence? Meanwhile, its enclosure has turned into the Ritz for tortoises and I have named him Tortellini.
Under the Brightest Moon
in the glow
of evening twilight
the silhouette
of a tortoise…
thin smile of a moon
Ο Ο Ο
Roxie (Photo – Briony James)
Briony James
Troubles pile up, large and small and we all need comfort. I never knew what it was like to be owned by a dog until Roxie showed up on my doorstep in a Ralph’s bag. Her funny little heart is much bigger than her 12.5 lbs and I now have been enlightened: dog kisses really are a cure-all.
she waits
probably sleeps
dreaming
the door open
she bounces into my lapa fuzzy head
a Ralph’s shopping bag
eternal love foundher eyes are dark pools
drowning me
unbreakable love
she knows
licks tears awaythe weight of a small body
pressed against my leg
consolation
peace
measured in dog snores
Ο Ο Ο
Beau (Photo – Taura Scott)
Taura Scott
after the break-up
a cat adopts me
from the shelteri
name him
Beau
Ο
Tortellini at home (Photo – Corine Timmer)
Animals Who Find Us: Quotes and Credits
Corine Timmer is a visual artist, author, publisher, award-winning haiku poet, and street dog advocate. She has completed three anthologies of animal haiku keyed to the signs of the Chinese zodiac and is at work on the fourth. She lives in rural Portugal between the sea and the Algarvean hills. Corine is a member of the British and American haiku societies and various online children’s literature groups. Her Tortellini is a 15-20 year old Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise.
Briony James lives in the foothills of Altadena with Roxie, and her partner Madison. Roxie was found at the hairpin turn on Canyon Crest Dr and they were looking for her owner or someone who could take care of her for the evening — they had a huge cat who would NOT have been happy. We took her in, figured out her name (I swear she whispered it into my ear!) Took her to the vet the next day—she was microchipped but the owner didn’t want her so we switched names on her chip and that was that!
Taura Scott, a Pasadena’s Poet on Site for over 10 years, now lives in Duarte.
She loves cats and writes tanka and cherita. Tanka means “little song”, and is often five lines in English, with an ancient history in Japan. Cherita, a six line form, was created 24 years ago by ai li, who is the editor of the cherita journal. Cherita is the Malay word for “little story” and was created by ai li,
Taura’s poem above , as well as Kathabela’ s intro are both cherita. Taura and Kathabela write and publish many collaborative cherita.
Submission Guidelines
Suggest your own theme. or write Kathabela for a theme suggestion. We publish every two weeks. Send short poems, free verse, haiku, senryu, tanka, cherita, haibun, tanka prose, short prose poems, etc., or your own unique approach, to Kathabela by text message or (click here to email her directly). We can feature your work again after five months. Multiple Submissions can be saved to appear later:
- Send a short bio, with comments on your theme.
- Send photos or artwork by you, or friends.
- Put your poems directly in the email.
- No attachments except photos.
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