Pets can strengthen our lives, health, and emotions. They ask only to be loved and fed then left alone or pampered. We have the choice. These poems are from real events narrated by one who loves to take in all those abused and hungry, needing a warm pad or a homemade birdhouse.
Appreciating Our Pets and Wilderness Life
Poems, Photos, and Paintings of Pets
By Mary Alice RanieriTrafford Publishing
Copyright © 2015 Mary Alice Ranieri
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-5212-9Contents
preface, iv,
Pigeon on shoulder, 1,
Pigeons feeding, 1977, 2,
Jasper Tom, 3,
Toy (dog), 4,
Macaws on shoulders, Petting Mongrel, 5,
Stuffed pets, 6,
Favorite dog, 7,
Owl in hollow, 8,
Cat on watercolor block, 9,
Cockatiel, 10,
Eddy's Cockatiel, 11,
Hugging a goose, 12,
Domestic geese - wild geese, 13,
Geese hatching, 14,
Honking geese, 15,
Spoonbills, 16,
Tino on hearth, 17,
Horseback riding, 18,
Horses grazing around barn, 19,
Turtle address - doll creations, 20,
Whooping Crane hatched - loons, 21,
Mallard and Muskogee, 22,
Jennifer's doll, 23,
peacock, peahen, 24,
Macaw, 25,
Pollinators, 26,
Sparrow feasting, 27,
flamingo diving, 28,
Bunny, 29,
Goat cart, 30,
Pony - elephant ride, 31,
Rover - family of pets, 32,
Goat cart, 30,
Pony and elephant rides, 31,
Dancing bears - Rover, 32,
Elephant painting, 33,
Raccoon scavenge, 34,
Camels at zoo, 35,
Caged bear, 36,
Tina in her basket, 37,
Siamese cats, 38,
Baby Parrot, 39,
Leaf art - stray cat, 40,
Kittens, 41,
Armadillo, 42,
Cats, cats, cats, 43,
White tail deer, 44,
Deer in snow, 45,
Phoenix, 46,
Deer along fence, 47,
Buffalo, 48,
Blue herons, 49,
Bull (metal sculpture), 50,
Bengal Tiger, 51,
French Poodle and Tabby Cat, 52,
Civet (cat), 53,
Annie, 54,
Parrot on vase - Black -belly whistler, 55,
Hibernating seals, 56,
Imperial ducks, 57,
Ram - longhorn, 58,
Trumpet swans, 59,
Rescue Dogs, 60,
Rescued cat, 61,
Elk Land, 62,
Susan's pet rock, 63,
White tiger, 64,
Hen house, 65,
Silkies, 66,
Nesting Muskogee's, 67,
Red neck crane, 68,
Red neck crane watchers, 69,
Ralph, pet macaw, 70,
Hatched bantams - milk cows, 71,
Butterflies and bees, 72,
Goats in yards - dog treats, 73,
Petting mongrel - photography, 74,
California Seals, 75,
Author's page, 76,
CHAPTER 1
Clarence Amos Jefferis
Pigeons are now extinct. These devoted birds served mankind well as carrier pigeons flying messages to strategic places, even war zones, before the advent of computers and smart phones.
The Naturalist
Orchids grow in humid holders;
Pet pigeons ride upon his shoulders
As calmly as aqua parakeets,
Unafraid of a Spaniel up-ending for treats.
Freeport swamps find Whooping Cranes,
Dipping down to beg a catch.
No longer a secret fishing haunt,
Clarence opens his wire-cage latch.
A turkey we named Jasper Tom escaped from a truck-load headed for the market. He was found strutting around a pond of pet ducks and geese making himself at home for about four years ... until a hungry wolf invaded his wire fencing.
Cameras clicked when he flared his tail--
Like opening a fan or a sail.
We wonder who opened the gate,
Allowing inside a hungry ingrate.
Toy dogs are smart
Making up for size,
So it's no surprise
They steal your heart.
Michael pets mongrel
Gift from a nearby farmer
Background peacocks watch
Michael goes to San Antonio
With bandit and King Ray.
The Alamo's on the way.
Painted from snapshot
Alert dog now hangs on wall
Gaffing insurance
Pigmy owl nested in my backyard hollow elm:
I waited until he left his realm
For an early morning camera shot,
Hoping he wouldn't abandon his leafy plot.
A cat who loved the watercolor block,
Pressing the hard-pressed paper even more,
Or waiting for her turn to pose?
Near the beautiful Taj Mahal
Young sahib holds his cobra pet--
Cobra venom doth stall
Hands that reach for a frozen asset.
With feathers aglow , he steals the show
Demanding a place to strut or race,
A makeshift stage ... Outside the cage
A place to squawk and learn to talk.
Cockatiel clings to shoulder,
With Eddy no less bolder.
Bantam Rooster minds the nestlings.
Choosing leadership
To fly over rural pond
Gaggling geese line-up
Home-made pond attracts
Wild geese ... Dry dog food and corn
Attract gosling brood
Hear my loud honking
We're set for a morning swim
Please throw out our corn
Spoonbills in flight
What an astounding sight
Domestic ducks perceived ...
Instincts no longer retrieved/
Tina lounges on hearth
Surrounded by artifacts.
Ben Franklin stove will keep her warm
When winter chill impacts.
Clydesdale or Shetland Pony,
Horses saved our aching feet
Palomino or Strawberry Roan
Earned pastures green and sugar treat.
Pinto and Appaloosa with friends
Are grazing around the barn
Where the good grass never ends
On a well-kept farm in early morn.
What a charming child
Jennifer clutches her doll
Her smiling rag toy
Hatched Whooping Crane
Lessens the extinction bane
Loons cry a warning
With ducklings passing by
Floating on mama's back
Friendly Mallard watching a sleeping Muskogee:
Why can' t she fly away with me?
I would enjoy her company.
Peahen
Peacock
A pair of beauties hatched a fledging and...
