Milkweed

Milkweed


They looked like puffs of milkweed
at first
round lolls of white,
hundreds of them,
enough to cross a man’s eyes.

One blink
and they narrow into stars
riveting
spellbinding a biker sky



or they would,
if the world were upside down.



His sneakers promise to glide
along the smooth pulsating surface,
but for now
dance a little
while holding him steady.
The Gibson strap
pulls delicately
on the nape of his neck
for the thousandth time
and he realizes he
is the one playing.
Husks of drumbeat
curve in the open air.

And the starlight suddenly fades

revealing
rows upon rows
of amber feline gazes
in bleacher seats;
green golden flames of every size
and claw length
glint hungrily.

Is it true
that cats copy
the sound
of human babies,

he thinks,
as one tiny mew
calls from the front row.
He watches, knowing
that the first airborne fangs
in his peripheral vision
will reach his windpipe
long before
he could ever weakly lift his guitar
in self defence.

Author's Note

Wrote this a few weeks ago for a friend who loves cats, and also has a nine-year-old boy. That was my audience. Just sayin.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"and the Cats in the Cradle and the Silver Spoon"
well, we aren't supposed to give cats milk after they are kittens, supposed to be bad for them...
maybe singing to them is dangerous as they don't like being background harmony....they want to lead the songs...
and so many in the front row to stop the show.

I am a cat person...read this to Hank...she purred...
j.

[adichie]

Haha! Well, I’m glad. You know you’re okay if your words pass the feline test. 😀😀

Thanks for such an awesome review!!!
Adix 💜

[Nefertiti Virtudes Ahme..]

Also, I know you were gone a while back but it’s nice to see you back in here

[Nefertiti Virtudes Ahme..]

From first glance it isn’t what it seems..but the to more you read the deeper it gets! I love it!

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

I'm not a cat person but I respect animals.

Good job, Adichie.

[Lea Sheryn]

I just adopted a kitten at Christmas time so I'm drawn to your poem. Enjoyed it very much!

[adichie]

Thanks for dropping by, Lea!!! 🙏🏽

A

[Lea Sheryn]

You're welcome

[barleygirl]

I've played guitar on stage a few times, but never took that route in life becuz this is how it felt to me, like the audience was something threatening instead of something glorious. To be an entertainer, I realized, it takes more than the actual musical talent. You have to be able to face the throngs . . . some thrive on it, others dive on it. I love that you take the less obvious path, the one most people don't think about when they dream of being famous (or whatever) This is complex & thought-provoking while SHOWING everything thru original imagery (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[adichie]

Oh, thanks!!! Glad you enjoyed it, truly.

Yes, the stage can be terrifying for some people. In this write, I’ve made it into a nightmare. But I have to admit, I really enjoy sharing with large crowds of people, whether it be singing, speaking, dancing, whatever. I get Michael Jackson who said he used to come alive onstage.

Appreciate the fine grain of this read!!!

Adix

[barleygirl]

I have a DVD of MJ & love to watch it (over & over) exactly becuz he is so ALIVE when he's on stage!

[John the Baptist]

Not sure what to make of this one. We seem to be getting a description of a musician entertaining an audience. The eyes of the audience remind him of cats. Then in the last verse things get sister. The musician realizes how quickly a cat's fangs could reach his throat before he could raise his guitar. The meaning I'm getting is that the crowd is ever ready to turn on you, so don't get too comfortable.

[adichie]

Hey there, John, and thanks for your interpretation!!! Remember, I was writing for a 9-year-old and his mother.