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Quills and Whiskers, Whiskers and Quills
by Kristina WoodhillQuills and whiskers, whiskers and quills
Kept in a bottle on her window sill
The sun peers in and the stars shine through
And raise their brows at my child'Â’s dried brew
The quill ends came from our tire'Â’s side wall
On a trip to our friends in the country one fall
The porcupine appeared at the round of a curve
It was night, little light, and too tight to swerve
But no crunch came as we slid by the porc
I just knew we'Â’d be skewered like a long steel fork
Next day we stared and laughed '‘til we cried
As they pulled quills out from the tire'Â’s smooth side
Sharp as a sharp as a sharp as a sharp as a
Quills and whiskers, whiskers and quills
Reflecting times from my child'Â’s life'Â’s stills
Her memories safe resting side by side
Two brought together from the great divide
Soft as a soft as a soft as a soft as a
The soft stiff whiskers from our many cats came
She points out the colors, she knows each name
Stiffer than fur, but still soft to the touch
Sloughed off with rubbing or cleaning too much
These two juxta objects in one small vial
Make me think of my girl'Â’s childhood with a smile
Did she already see with the wisdom of age
Life'Â’s sharp and soft edges that occur at each stage
Sharp as a tack
Step back from the crack
Now always watch your back
And give '‘em no slack
Such a thrill, big chill
Even small things can kill
Eat the swill, take the pill
Don'’t let ‘em break your will
Touch the quill
Touch the quill
Touch the quill
Touch the quill
Let it weave through the cloth
Let its barbed end hold
Keep it sharp, use its strength
Make a weak man bold
Quills and whiskers, whiskers and quills
Give my children both now to test their wills
Like a whisker of a cat, let them feel all they touch
And hold on firmly to their life'Â’s paintbrush
Let them grow
Learn to know
Reap and sow
Stretch their bow
Let them feel love'Â’s rush
Cheek'Â’s blush, heart'Â’s flush
Let their soft sides cushion
What the sharp walls crush
And I, as my voice fades low to a whisper
I will pray for no less quills than whiskers
For my children'Â’s children and for theirs
Whiskers and quills, quills and whiskers
04/09/2006
Author's Note: This reads fast and steady. The porcupine story is true, and amazingly the tire did not go flat. My daughter's keen eye captures all the cat whiskers that find their way here and there in our life. The small bottle sits on her window sill still.
Posted on 04/09/2006
Copyright © 2025 Kristina Woodhill
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Charles E Minshall on 04/10/06 at 03:07 AM Fun poem kris. I have a few whiskers myself...Charlie |
| Posted by Elizabeth Jill on 04/11/06 at 12:41 AM How cool and different and fresh! —that you find a way to put the two frills together...the sharp and the soft! —I felt both swooping around me ("porc"-hehehe and "fork"-love-love-love!!!) Your poems are so "life’s paintbrush"!
^•.•^ whispering whiskers |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 04/11/06 at 04:13 PM This is an absolutely beautiful poem, both in structure and message. Wish I had written this...glad you did! Adds to favorites. :o) |
| Posted by Mara Meade on 04/12/06 at 12:14 PM A mother's insights, a poets appreciation... this is a wonderful poem, Kristina! |
| Posted by Soulo Jacob Bourgeau on 04/14/06 at 02:55 AM This is a fantastic observation of something so mundane, yet profound. Especially love "Did she already see with the wisdom of age/Life’s sharp and soft edges that occur at each stage" . I think I shall start collecting Logan's whiskers and the occassional cactus tine he seems to bump into. |
| Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 04/14/06 at 05:02 AM There is such great rhythm here, goes to it's own beat for sure. Aside from the fun it is to hear it read aloud, it's a good bit of whimsy. Thanks for this! |
| Posted by Christel Crews on 05/30/06 at 07:03 PM this has the feeling of an oral tale, those stories that were passed along from generation to generation by rhyme and song.. it does move very quickly and its such a lovely piece |
| Posted by Quinn Vokes on 06/07/09 at 01:41 AM I agree with Christel, I like the feel of the words being read out loud. It adds another element of excitement to your wonderful work! Brilliant! |
| Posted by Linda Fuller on 06/28/10 at 11:05 PM This reads beautifully - the title belongs in a (white) witch's incantation. And...I used to have a pretty awesome whisker collection when I had a multiple cat household. I can't find it, but I started another one from my current single cat. |
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