Kwame Alexander’s newest crowdsourced poem explores the world by the eyes of Morning Version listeners’ pets.
Sam Yeh/AFP through Getty Photos
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Sam Yeh/AFP through Getty Photos
Kwame Alexander’s newest crowdsourced poem explores the world by the eyes of Morning Version listeners’ pets.
Sam Yeh/AFP through Getty Photos
We requested and your pets answered.
NPR poet-in-residence Kwame Alexander shares his newest group crowd sourced poem from pet homeowners across the nation, from ages six to 86.
We heard from over 700 of you, sharing the phrases of what your pets is likely to be eager about you, their subsequent meals, their subsequent adventures, their subsequent cuddles and extra.
Learn Alexander’s poem, titled Pricey Captor: You Discuss, I Surprise.
Hello, My title is Larry Longshanks
And for my of us I give thanks.
My title is Leo and I’m a canine
As soon as I used to be let outdoors to nearly eat a frog
Fluffy, the pre-school hamster
I’m the sixth to bear the title.
I attempt to stay my life with dignity and style, resigned to my destiny.
However some day, when one among them takes me residence,
I swear I’ll make my escape.
It is darkish and chilly. I can hear the opposite prisoners barking.
I do not begrudge you that final journey to the vet 4 days in the past.
The ladies fed me outstanding treats.
My wants are so few:
Meals, water, toys, and outdoor
A clear litter field
I’m a smelly canine.
I lick, leap, eat all the pieces
I sniff, I pee
I scent each tree
Who was right here earlier than
Sharp and comfortable in your residential jungle, expensive captor, I hearken to your whispering eyelash and your swishing pulse, however I hear past: scraping step of ladybug, a moth’s powdery wing, delicate spider dances.
You discuss, I ponder: Would you discover every sky if I weren’t there to get you outdoors?
I am unable to inform you about my life earlier than
Simply as nicely, I do not need you to be unhappy
Regardless of her many clocks,
the lady forgot the hour always.
At all times saying “It isn’t time but” when clearly my bowl was empty, and I used to be perishing earlier than her eyes.
Dad threatened to make me right into a stew; Then got here again with carrot tops and treats anew;
And people boys have been so loud
At all times stomping and screaming
We wished them to be quiet
So we might return to dreaming
They received to eat biscuits and gravy
All we ever received have been dried flakes
We would love one thing extra tasty
How ’bout some potato pancakes?
Now, I’m partnered with a silly lady who does not perceive that threats are in every single place.
She naively walks previous canine who would possibly lunge up and rip into her throat. She ignores plastic baggage dancing within the wind that may cowl her face as she fights for breath.
She does not run very quick
She all the time hears the mailman final
And I do not assume her sense of scent is working very nicely
She walks on clumsy toes, her head floats within the air,
She will be able to’t meow and has no fur and does not appear to care
that when she sings her nonsense phrases and baby-talks my title
I take a look at her politely then should shut my eyes in disgrace
She calls me wiggle butt.
And buggie.
And cuddle bug.
Baby.
Love bug.
Herc-a-jerk.
Hercules.
At this level I simply come to something
As a result of it would imply meals.
Or treats.
Or a stroll.
Or cuddles.
Curled up like a doughnut,
I wait patiently for my household
I’ll spend my life conserving her secure. It’s the burden I bear.
As soon as wild and free, now secure and sound
In a brand new residence, pleasure and love have been discovered
Gone are the times of looking and concern
Now, a lifetime of consolation and cheer
Thanks, sort soul, for giving an opportunity
This lap-seeking, freaky-in-the best-way love pillow
Stands. Sits. Lies able to serve you. I humbly recommend
That you just toss apart your tiresome worries
Together with my worn-out tennis balls.
Come be part of me in a communal sofa-soft delight.
I am right here to hearken to your each thought. Want. Dream.
I’m, nevertheless, nervous, typically
That you’ve forgotten about dinner.
(I always remember about dinner.)
At present I received an apple for a prize
For leaping the perfect
Subsequent I am going again to my stall to relaxation
Finally it is lunch time
My dinner is gone, oh, woe is me
I ate all of it so greedily.
I yowl with grief, not possible to disregard
However my individuals is not going to give me extra.
No crunchy kibble, no tasty bits
It is sufficient to provide me suits.
When my water bowl is dry
I believe that I’ll absolutely die –
However when mother pets my ears
I neglect all my fears –
You are residence! You are residence!
You have been gone, and I believed the wait would by no means finish.
How lengthy has it been —
A minute? An hour? A day? Per week?
I gotta go; I gotta go; I gotta go
What’s it about this he does not perceive?
I’m being clear right here about my wants
Why does not he get the leash?
For 15 years you’ve got given me such cozy nests.
Though I can now not leap tall fences (and even get on the sofa)
or convey late evening comatose possums in to get up in your rug,
I nonetheless love the times of heat sunshine and
Evenings the place we gaze into one another’s eyes
From my cozy orthopedic mattress.
She says I am an angel in fur coat
That I carry her coronary heart in mine
I do not know what meaning
What I do know is that
you liked me from the minute you rescued me
working away scares you to loss of life … however I can not assist it
I’m filled with sass and argumentative
your proper arm is now longer than your left from 5 years of pulling on lead
I get overwhelmed with pleasure when we have now firm
I can not assist myself when the resident squirrel runs our fence line
I’m hooked on butter
it makes you chuckle once I come from behind, between your knees, and lookup at you
you’re completely satisfied and content material once we are collectively
At some point expensive human I’ll write for you a tome.
For now you’ll have to make due with this poem.
You reside for me and me alone.
HEY! The place’s my bone?!?
This group poem was created utilizing submissions by:
Patricia Kessel, Portland, Ore.
Pranathi Srini, Tustin, Calif.
Noah Holmes, Aurora, Ohio
Heather Christianson, Sacramento, Calif.
Joanna Tapio, Chicago, Unwell.
Elaina Hannigan, Corvallis, Ore.
Kim Bridgges, Richmond, Va.
Kimberly Whalen, Lakeville, Minn.
Jennifer Nunez, San Jose, Calif.
Judy Radlinsky, San Jose, Calif.
Margaret Bridges, Portland, Ore.
Betsy Shiroma, Ardsley, N.Y.
Jim Zeiger, Denver, Col.
David Bader, New York, N.Y.
Valerie Lim, Tucson, Ariz.
Harlan Shays, Raleigh, N.C.
Cecily Kiester, Wash.
Mary Rudzinski, Portland, Ore.
Stephanie Spencer, Vancouver, Wash.
Gregory Groth, Portsmouth, N.H.
Jan Crocker, Macon, Ga.
Carmen Kuziemsky, Buffalo, N.Y.
Claire Buttry, Longmont, Col.
Diane Peters-Nguyen, Kailua, Hawaii
Andy Lange, Overland Park, Kan.
Serene Dougan, Fairview, Ore.
Mary Alison Leatart, Bend, Ore.
Brook Rajnowski, Fort Collins, Col.
Joyce Cheng, Hillsboro, Ore.
Linda Muhlhausen, Middletown, N.J.
Theresa Norman, Edinburg, Texas
This poem was produced with assist from Karan Chaudhary. Julie Depenbrock and Reena Advani produced and edited the audio story. Reena Advani and Rachel Treisman tailored it for the net.
