Poet Showcase: Tracy R. Bowling / First Annual Indiana Poetry Festival

Ah, cats and poetry. Two of my favorite things, if you don't count sleeping in laundry baskets or harassing the dog. But you know what's even better than a cat or a poem? A cat poem! Among our countless other attributes, we cats have inspired poets throughout history. A few favorites come to mind: Carl Sandburg's "Fog," William Blake's "The Tyger," William Carlos Williams' "As The Cat" and T.S. Elliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." The cat continues to play muse to poets of our own time, and I'd like for you to meet one of them. We'll start with the poem, then introduce you to the poet, and cat, behind the words.

Finegood Morning

Fine—Good Morning, Kii.
Not sure how you think
my waking could be improved by your feet at eye level
and peculiar kisses breathed upon my nose.
It’s a fine Good Morning indeed—Thank you
for considering me worthy to share
with you a ruddy, shallow sun rising,
reflected gold in your round, changeling eyes.
(No,
maybe no one will notice your whiskers
if you comb them for once—) This,
Today
is yours as much as mine
A day to tell the truth, listen who will, and
Who’s to say that Kii’s not your right name—
not a lazy bungling of “Kitty,”
some testament to overtired tongues
and mumblers tangled in their bedsheets,
but foreign—Ours—
Yours and Mine alone,
our own strange language in secret cadence, rising,
then falling,
and I want to laugh
as I sigh, when you come to wish Good Morning to me.
True, my fine, good Kii.
It is a finegood-fabulous morning.

Copyright 2005 by Tracy R. Bowling

This poem, which describes the unspoken yet steadfast love shared between a cat and human, was written by Tracy R. Bowling. Tracy is a junior at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, majoring in English and Middle/Secondary Education. As co-editor of Butler’s literary magazine, Manuscripts, and a member of the Indy writing group The RRRRs, her goal is to encourage writers within and beyond the university setting. Tracy resides in Avon, Indiana, where her interests include quilting, foreign languages and composing music for local filmmakers.

"Finegood Morning" is about Tracy's grey cat Kii, who suffers from kitty breath mint addiction (guess catnip isn't for everybody). She also has another orange and white cat named Beau who is obsessed with "washing" people's feet. Tracy admits, "They're strange, but of course I love 'em all the better for it!" I'm sure they love you too, Tracy, and I mean that as a compliment (purr).

Tracy will be a featured poet at the first annual Indiana Poetry Festival, sponsored by The Writers' Center of Indiana, on Sunday, October 16, 2005. This event will bring together literary representatives from educational and cultural organizations across Indiana. Different tents and stages will feature the quality and variety of Indiana's poetry. This will include graduate poetry students, university poets, spoken word poets, local poets and poets featured in Indiana's varied literary publications. Music and arts entertainment and collaborations will play a vital role in attracting writers to other art forms and placing the literary arts amongst other arts forms. The Indianapolis Art Center's spectacular building and new ArtsPark will provide an exciting and appropriate venue. Here are the full details:

* When: Sunday, October 16, 2005, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
* Where: Indianapolis Art Center and Arts Park, 820 East 67th Street
* Admission Donation: $8 adults same day, $6 adults in advance, $5 students, 17 and younger free (purchase in advance or at gate, call 317.255.0710 for more information)
*Featured Poets: Poet Laureate of the United States Ted Kooser, Catherine Bowman, Dana Roeser, David Shumate, Donald Platt, Hannah Haas, Jim Walker, Karen Kovacik, Marianne Boruch, Mary Fell, Maurice Manning, Norman Minnick, Terry Kirts and many others
* Activities: Food vendors, beer and wine tastings and vendors, book sales and signings, music stage, poetry readings and kids activities
* For more information, or to learn how you can volunteer, visit the festival's website.