Cat Lady is a narrative poem about the pines, fountains and stray cats of Rome.
ABOUT CAT LADY:To the average tourist in Rome, Maria may be just an old lady, (gattara), who feeds the city's stray cats and thinks that she can talk to them, yet things are rarely as they seem. Her powers are incredible! She CAN talk to cats! And they talk back!! (It helps that the cats are enchanted too!), and to those who truly love, and seek her assistance, the impossible is only an illusion.
A few will snort and call her geezer;
Friend, they say, to Julius Caesar.
Others turn way and mutter
"Strega," cross themselves and sputter.
Old Maria's heard it all,
Can't hear, or care, what names they call.
She has her work to do, and that's
To feed the city's feral cats.
Cat Lady by Mary M. Schmidt Author/Poet, is dedicated to the feral cats of Rome and Friends of Roman Cats.
"Your family is a splendid scene,"
Maria tells the feline queen,
"How goes it on this day for you?"
Queen Bast then sighed, "If you but knew!
I feel as if I could just drop!
These kittens here? They never stop!
The Coliseum, in it's day,
Did never see such a display!
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They have no concept of decorum,
Running wild all through the Forum,
Through the Senate! Round the column!
Thanks to them, there's nothing solemn,
Earth the noble Caesars trod,
Is now home to a kitten squad!
They even pounce, with rapid spurts,
Those tourists, in Hawaiian shirts!
A "PURR" Delight! The story is told in 44 pages and each page of the story is a poem consisting of eight lines. The cadence flows beautifully and the sentiment will be deeply appreciated by those who dedicate their lives to helping feral cats. That being said, it is a narrative poem for ALL cat lovers. I hadn't known about the feral cat population in Rome prior to reading Mary's book and I thank her for the beautiful way she has honored them.
About the Author: Mary M. Schmidt was a student in Rome during the 60s and came to know of the many feral cat colonies in the Eternal City. She is an author of prose, poetry, and was a member of Poets Against the Iraq War. She currently lives outside of Washington DC with her cat, Graycie.
ISBN-13:
9781483436104
Publisher:
GIVE-AWAY:TWO OF OUR READERS located anywhere in the world will each win a copy of Cat Lady by Mary M. Schmidt. (An approx $10 value). The give-away is open now and will end at 5pm EST on Thursday, October 1st. Winners will be announced on or around Saturday, October 3rd.
TO ENTER:Just leave a comment stating that you would like to be entered to win a copy.
Good luck!
In full disclosure:I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of Cat Lady in exchange for my honest review.
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