Conversations with Critters
Walk with the animals. Talk with the animals. And the Critters find themselves inclined toward their poetic side…
Today, Critters, there is both a rhyme and a reason for waxing rather poetic. Again, we express our deep deep appreciation for our readers, one and all, who have made a submission of their favorite Animal Antics. So much talent! So many incredible wild stories! And all told in creative forms of prose and poetry, voiced in unique and unparalleled expressions of luvluvluv.
Helping us work through this special selection and collection of stories, is Kermit the Frog, our French Bulldog-Pug mix! He is back by Popular Demand. Kermit has made the descent from his Forested Home in the Mountains and joins us now at our Condo in the Valley. Please, welcome him, Jasper Kitten and Chris in excellent and well oxygenated creative critter conversation.
Heidi: Welcome welcome! The Critters have geared up up up for a Poetry Slam! And we are feeling quite bullish with Kermit stepping in to help us on the path unwinding.
Jasper: Hello, Friends! Welcome back and thank you for being here again with us, Kermit.
Chris: Hello, Everyone! Thank you for being here, Kermit. Thank you very much.
Kermit: Hello! I am so bullish on being here!
Jasper: Without further fanfare, let us wax poetic!
Kermit: Gosh, I have to admit that when I try to write poetry or speak with a mellifluous and eloquent speech pattern, I just can’t help but feel kind of clunky.
Chris: That clunky sound and feeling, Kermit, is completely natural at first.
Kermit: Oh, it is?
Chris: It is. I felt that way, too, early on. I pretty much limited myself to saying expressive and expansive things like what and then to expand on that, I would say what. You’ve got this, Kermit.
Jasper: It’s true, Kermit. Sounding clunky is part of the poetic critter process. I often followed Chris with his lead openers.
Kermit: Oh, you did?
Jasper: I did. I would feel like oh no oh no! After Chris would say what, I would say why. And from there, everything started to flow really well. You’ve got this.
Kermit: Gosh, that is so nice of you to both say this to me and help me with my poetic process, so early in my residency here at Conversations with Critters.
Jasper: Of course.
Chris: Of course.
Kermit: Well, with that said, I would like to take this opportunity to present the poems that our dear gentle readers submitted to us when they heeded the clarion call to send us their very own favorite animal antics. We have our work cut out for us. We still need to make a series of posts!
Chris: We are staying the course, Kermit.
Jasper: Lots of deep deep breaths. Inhale. And exhale all the way out.
Kermit: Let’s share a photo of how well oxygenated and ready we really are for the edification and enjoyment of our readers.
Jasper: Excellent! We received some really outstanding poems. Take it away, Kermit!
Kermit: Thank you, Jasper Kitten. Thank you very much. We have so many incredible readers who are talented beyond belief. I am humbled and pleased to present a selection and a collection of poetry written with both power and finesse.
Chris: You crushed that intro, Kermit. Well said.
Kermit: Gosh, Chris, that’s such a huge compliment. And now, please welcome welcome an Outstanding Haiku from Across the Pond by our friend and highly esteemed Poet Photographer
at :Love my li’l old dog
she snores, farts, hassles, naps, begs.
I taught her it all
Chris: Incredible.
Jasper: Impressive.
Kermit: Yes, this is truly outstanding Critter Literature and can stand alone. However, here is another Haiku which resonates and builds on the evocative talent of our Readers. We thank our friend and highly esteemed Memoirist and ICU Nurse
at for sharing the following:My puppy Roxy
She drank a quart motor oil
And lived to be twelve
Jasper: Incredible. Such resonance. Such resilience.
Chris: Impressive. Such healing. Critters, this Haiku is tapping tapping into the thematic automotive industry which Jasper and I share in common, given that I was born in a garage near the Tesla Factory and Jasper was found as a kitten in a bush at a gas station.
Jasper: We are deeply moved and truly humbled and we honor Roxy’s memory.
Kermit: The thematic synchronicity and overlap of experience is remarkable.
Jasper: It is.
Chris: Yes.
Kermit: Critters, we have just enough time left to feature two more incredible Haiku poems and the first comes to us from our friend and highly esteemed Writer
at :Kitty died so sad!
Being dead was no bother
He still is prankster!
Jasper: Gosh, this really speaks to the forces beyond the Rainbow Bridge. I understand from a special comment shared with us that this beloved kitty was 19 years old.
Chris: Yes, and the mediumistic tendencies of Cats are also spoken of in the comments from the Author which enhances this Haiku: “…Years later in a different state found his cat hair. Lately, I saw a giant coffee tumbler move about an inch on its own. He likes being near me!”
Jasper: We are so grateful to our readers for sharing these profound and personal poems and comments.
Kermit: As I am learning, even a small poem like Haiku can open up a world of meaning.
Chris: Kermit, this is quite a learning curve. Would you like to share one more Haiku with us before we reach The End today?
Kermit: Yes, thank you, Chris. Thank you very much. Our highly esteemed friend and Writer
at gave us this gem as we continue and conclude with the thematic imagery of fur:Surrounded by fur
Adrift in a sea of purr
A point of order
Jasper: Thank you, Critters, one and all, for your kind attention to these sensitive Reader Submissions which are of such high Critter Literary Quality. We luvluvluv you for taking your own valuable time to provide us with such incredible poetry.
Chris: Thank you, Friends. I must wait now for my new automatic feeder which dispenses my 282 kilocalories per day to open open open. It is time. The end.
Kermit: We’ll see you next time. I myself must now return to my Mountain home in the Forest. Deep deep breaths. The. End.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Poetry with Pets
Thank you to our Readers
For your participation
Beautiful Haiku
By Jasper Kitten, Chris & Kermit
[Photos of Kermit courtesy of Cheryl Patzer]
As the Series of Reader Submissions continues to grow, here are the links to the previous episodes for your edification and enjoyment:
Thanks thanks so much I love it and I am thrilled!
uh life got dangerous and I had to duck out for some time.
IDEAS are BULLETPROOF so I am back.
And oh the stories I sadly cannot tell!
Once more, your animals in communication warms my heart and puts a smile on my face. 😊