1999
POEMS FROM THE ECHO

 
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EWAN ELLIOTT
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COMMENTARY:

Every so often on has a great idea, which doesn't quite come off,  perhaps.
Ewan's picture of the cat, moving, observing and 'being at home' wherever he was, contrasted with 'what the cat saw, ' was always a brilliant poetic idea. Here, we've been given permission to show you two drafts of the same idea, to watch a poem grow, and perhaps to learn something for ourselves from that reading. 
Read them (grin). Let us know what you think.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 

January 29, 1999
MOVING ON

  As the sun fell through this lazy summer's afternoon
  And concrete cooled - he moved from porch to porch
  Catching the last warmth of the day
  Between feline paws as you rolled lazily
  Cleaning and purring like a satisfied cat
  With one eye open and watching for food
  Or maybe an innocent child scurrying home
  Maybe the Mother with shopping
  Or the Father home from work
  Looking forward to a hot meal and a cuddle
  Dishevelled and sweaty with a hot shower on his mind

  Unlike the cat on the roof who cocked his ears
  Stroking the gun metal softly
  And sighted through scopes
  "You are on the wrong side mister."
  Crack  A cat jumped in surprise
  A little girl cried
  A Dad didn't come home
  That night or ever again

  A cat packed his gear and threw a biscuit to a feline hunter
  Before moving on
  Satisfied he had done his job
  Sure that there would be another tomorrow
  Back home to a kiss and a cuddle
  To a hot bath and to spend sometime with the kids
  Before heading for a good night's sleep
  Well deserved, maybe a little poor mans opera.
 

 Ewan Elliott
 29 January, 1999

 
 
9 February, 1999
CRACK












  As the sun fell through the lazy summer's afternoon
  And concrete cooled - the cat moved from porch to porch
  Catching the last warmth of the day
  Between feline paws as he rolled lazily
  Cleaning and purring, satisfied with his life
  With one eye open and watching for food
  An innocent child scurried home
  With Mom with shopping
  And Dad clumped home from work
  Looking forward to a hot meal and a cuddle
  Dishevelled and sweaty with a hot shower on his mind

  Unlike the cat on the roof who cocked his ears
  Stroking the gun metal softly
  And sighted through scopes

  "You are on the wrong side mister."

  Crack

  A cat jumped in surprise
  A Dad didn't come home
  That night or ever again

 A cat packed his gear and threw a biscuit to a feline hunter
  Before moving on
  Satisfied he had done his job
  Sure that there would be another tomorrow
  Back home to a kiss and a cuddle
  To a hot bath and to spend sometime with the kids
  Before heading for a good night's sleep
  Well deserved, maybe a little poor mans opera.

  Ewan Elliott
 
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