Cats And Dogs

I am participating in National Poetry Writing Month 2019. 30 Poems in 30 Days is the target.

The Day 10 Prompt for #NaPoWriMo is to write a poem that starts from a regional phrase, particularly one to describe a weather phenomenon. I picked up an interesting phrase related to rainfall, and gave it an interesting twist.

Do read it in full screen :-)

'twas raining cats and dogs

a few of them falling on my porch

as I bent and picked up a kitten

a puppy got jealous, and I was smitten

I was stuck in a weird dilemma

"Can I keep them both, please Mama"

she nodded, refused, standing firm

"Sorry son, you can just keep one"

the puppy looked with pitied eyes

kitten mewed and stared at the skies

I didn't know what to choose

both of them were too damn cute

"Fine Mom, I keep the kitten

but tomorrow's your birthday, a gift's to be given

this puppy for you, a present from my side

look how pretty it is, black freckles on white"

she didn't refuse, and I was relieved

they were now mine, can you believe

the kitten was furry, licking my toes

I lifted the puppy and it kissed my nose

Shared with

• Napowrimo - Day Ten
• Poets United - Poetry Pantry

Watermelon Diaries - The Finale

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Click To Read Episode Nine

I can not fathom how much I ran. Neither do I remember rushing by the evening tide, panting for breath, nor can I recollect the moment I fell asleep from weariness. However, when I opened my eyes, something felt new. Different. Good. In fact, I felt happier, the reason oblivious to me, but a sudden sense of excitement had overpowered me. My gait seemed to have suddenly awaken from a long bout of slumber, and all the exuberance of the world seeped into me.

And then, out of nowhere, the skies turned black, the land turned muddy, and I found myself drowning in utter confusion. My paws struck a solid ground, but before I could hold on to it, I realized my nose was melting, my eyes squinting, and my face rapidly turning into a cat. I shrieked.

I woke up a second time. Phew, what a nightmare! I shook my head, itched my tail, and looked around. The sun was sinking behind the mountains, revealing an aura of divine colors. Wait! Mountains? How did mountains come into this city? I have never seen mountains here before.

And then, from the horizon, I could see a faint trail, a line of dust sliding nearer and nearer. I stood rooted at the spot, ready to run in case of any danger. As the vision cleared out, I noted that the formation was none other than a large conglomeration of chihuahuas, walking in groups, the total number way beyond a few hundreds, or perhaps even thousands.

The leader of the group stopped before me, and greeted, "Woof! Welcome to the land of chihuahuas."

I was astounded. Where was I? "I have never heard of such a land before," I expressed my dilemma.

The leader smiled, and said, "That's because you never sought for this land earlier. You have always been engaged with your mistress, her house, her demands, not realizing that you too have a life of your own. You have enveloped your dreams all this long, the time has now come to open the letters. This is your life. You are free. Your will is your desire, and your ambitions define the path you take. Just like the path towards your left. I hope you will love it."

I looked towards my left, and was met with both shock and surprise. There, right in front of my eyes, was a large patch of watermelons. Ripe, and juicy, and green. Watermelons of all sizes, varieties and types.

I slurped.

"Go on," the leader laughed, "this is your world. Live your life to the fullest, and yes, welcome to our group. From now on, we will all share our smiles and tears, sadness and happiness, success and defeat. We are the inhabitants of this land, the land of chihuahuas."

I leaped towards the watermelons, not knowing from where to start. I was on cloud nine. I wished this wasn't a dream that would get broken in a couple of hours. Or perhaps it was.

But until then, I would relish this part of my life. For now this was my reality - me and my watermelon diaries.

Woof! Woof!

The End !!! 

Watermelon Diaries - Episode Nine

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Click To Read Episode Eight

The knock was loud, and the third one broke the door.

Three policemen barged into the house, revolvers held firmly. They looked right, then left, and then again right, and walked briskly towards the rooms. I, behind the shadowy confines of the living room sofa, recognized two of them.

"Ma'am, stand up!"I heard a booming voice coming from the kitchen. Probably, that's where my mistress was hiding, but her cover had been ruined. There were a few rapid whispers, probably conversations over a mobile phone, and in a couple of minutes, two lady officers made their way inside.

"Please, I am innocent. I didn't rob the bank," I heard my mistress pleading.

"Ma'am, we never said we are here for you. We are looking for a dog, a young chihuahua. However, you made it clearer, instead. What makes you think we suspect you of robbing the bank?"

There was an uncomfortable silence, and then, my mistress's wail zoomed into the air.

"Please, forgive me. I was helpless.I made the mistake. But I had no other option," she cried.

"And may I know why there was no other option?" an officer asked, mimicking her.

"I...I didn't want my chihuahua to get the money."

Her words felt like a bolt of lightening. I have served her for so long, been her companion since months, and yet, this is how she behaved? She used to say she loved me. Then, why all of a sudden she didn't want me to have the money?

And how did she know I was planning to rob the bank?

A lady police officer echoed my thought, and asked her the same question.

"I actually saw him roaming round the bank since the last few days. He was very observant, looking at every nook and corner, the windows and doors. I suspected that since I didn't pay him to buy the watermelons, he might take this route. And look, wasn't I right? If he had the money, he would become indisciplined, and no longer obey my orders." she tried to reason.

"Sir! Sir! We found the money. It was hidden under the mattress." I heard a voice filled with excitement hurrying across the bedroom.

"Ma'am! You are under arrest. You broke the law, robbing a public bank, looting the money deposited by citizens of this country, causing inconvenience to the society. Plus, you didn't let your pet have his watermelons, which made the innocent creature plan of such an extreme step. You have to come with us to the police station."

Tears welled in my eyes. My heart broke a hundred pieces, each of them cracking again in a thousand ways. She was my family. This was once my home. Now, no more. I was alone, all over again.

Through my mist stained eyes, I ran out of the door, as fast as I could, to escape from myself, and from this bitter truth.

Click To Read The Finale

Watermelon Diaries - Episode Eight

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Click To Read Episode Seven

By the time it was noon, I returned home, only to be greeted by my mistress's sharp words.

"Where were you all of yesterday? I had to buy four mangoes, two peaches and six bananas myself."

I went and sat besides her. That's what I always did, whether she was in happy mood or foul. I didn't know where else to go. This has been my home since long.

She patted my back and I licked her feet. The familiar scent greeted my nostrils, but, there was something different. I could sense the blocks amiss. What was fate hinting at?

I focused, and recollected the events of the past few hours. The bank, the empty vault, arrival of police, and me sniffing the ground, acting innocent.

There! Like a bolt of lightening it struck me. Hard! A little too hard for my liking.

Before I could assemble my thoughts, and complete the puzzle, I heard the sharp wail of siren. It was the Police Car. It could only mean one thing.

I have been chased all this while.

I panicked. I didn't want to go back to that jail. They didn't serve any watermelons there. I scurried for cover, behind the shoe rack, underneath the cupboard, beneath the bed. However, my confusion turned into conviction as I saw my mistress too going through a similar palpitation. She was sweating profusely, was running helter skelter, and muttering, "Why is the Police coming? Have they found out? Oh My God?"

It all became clear now. The scent, the bank, and home.

The puzzle had completed itself.


Click To Read Episode Nine

Watermelon Diaries - Episode Three

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Previous Chapters

• Episode 1
• Episode 2

Story Ahead

It was a Sunday. Just another lazy Sunday. People on the streets were immersed in their newspapers, tea and pets, while I, another pet, was strutting on the 7th Avenue, alone (but that was what I preferred now, 'cause I couldn't afford to have a company at this hour. Nope, I wasn't going to share my loot, neither my watermelons).

Soon, I turned around the sideways, and the large metallic gates of Regional Bank of Hoofs and Paws smiled broadly at the sun, reflecting the excitement stored within me. I was excited, and nervous, and joyous, and afraid, all at the same time, a conglomeration of emotions burdened my thoughts, but I was determined to not let my resolve dissolve. And thus, I walked around the building, grey and red, and golden in rays, searching for a window, or a small gateway.

And my eyes lit up. There was an open window (how could the bank be so careless?)

I jumped towards the opposite wall, and then at the window. Wow. I was flying (and would soon fly out with money, hurray!). Watermelons started revolving around my eyes! Slurp!

The bank was dark. The lights were turned off. But who needed light. I smelt the floor, trying to identify the fragrance of fresh currency notes, and then followed the trail. I had to be careful though. No alarms should be turned off. Not that it mattered. No one could imagine a dog robbing a bank. Let alone accuse one.

Gradually, I reached a large door, the vault, the types I have seen in movies, with revolving handles, and pristine white in colour, as if painted in ivory. But, something wasn't right. I racked my tiny chihuahua brain, nodding from left to right, wagging my tail from north to south, thinking, jumping, thinking. What could be wrong.

And, woof, this was wrong.

The door was open. It wasn't locked, nor was it wide ajar, but it was open, a bit. As I peeped inside, my eyes walloped out in horror. There was no money.

There was not a penny to be robbed.

Woof ! Woof !

Read Episode Four Here.

Watermelon Diaries - Episode Two

Previous Chapters

1. Episode One

Story Ahead

I know it has been a long time coming, but I have been busy. Really busy. In thoughts, and cats, and mice, and the occasional dragonflies.

And of course watermelon.

I look at the painting on the wall, and the sunset beyond the window, and all I see is red and green. Juicy pulp flowing through my tongue. Slurp.

Woof ! Woof !

I wag my tail in excitement, running round and round, and hit a table, returning back to my senses immediately.

"Remember, there is no watermelon," I sound harsh to myself, and rude, and obnoxious.

And pathetically poor.

And that's when I device a plan. The plan. To earn money, lots of money, so much that I do not need to beg in front of my mistress with droopy eyes. I will be able to buy my own water melon, hundreds of them, or perhaps even more.

Yes, I was going to be rich.

I had decided finally. To. Rob. A. Bank. You heard that correct.

This Sunday.

The Sunday.

Woof! Woof!

Watermelon Diaries - Episode One

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Four mangoes. Two peaches. Six bananas. These were what I was supposed to buy. Nothing less, nothing more. But my eyes couldn't resist; my nose lured me too, and here I was, standing in front of the water-melon counter.

When I reached home, I was carrying two big water-melons in my shopping bag. Those were extra. Those were not in the list. Not needed. Unnecessary.

"Unnecessary," she repeated, and I obliged, my eyes lowered, her gaze fiery. She took a step forward, I edged back, hitting the wall, my eyes till counting the floor tiles.

"You are strange. I have never seen a dog so fond of watermelons."

She was right. Chihuahuas love fish. They adore pieces of meat. And they love several other delicacies. But watermelons?

"Err. They taste so juicy. Yuck," my brother had told me, before we parted.

My parents didn't approve either. I didn't approve them too. And that was why they abandoned me.

And was adopted. To play. To cuddle. To shop.

But not to shop watermelons.

And then the worst happened. "Tomorrow onwards, I will give you only the exact money. For four mangoes, two peaches, six bananas. No wastages on watermelons."

I cried, I yelped, but in vain. And then I realized, I need to make my own money.

But how?

Read More

1. Episode Two