I sit up in my *zaisu chair.
Is that you? Are you there?
Shadows flit across the floor.
Blackness hisses, run out the door!
Night has drawn the shades
on another day.
My lap is cold without your fur.
Yet in the corner, I hear you purr.
Transfixed on me, are two eyes of red.
I smile; not caring. I know you’re dead.
For it was me who buried you.
I’d carved the stone and sealed your tomb.
Yes, it was me who laid you to rest
before you’d taken one last breath.
Claws rake deep across my throat,
and before I can even shout,
my detached head slaps on the ground.
Ouch!
In Japan, cats and death go hand in hand. The nekomata cat ghost is said to have the powers of raising the dead. The more abused a cat has been, the more powerful its nekomata can become. Vengeance becomes a strong motivator for them.
*Zaisu is a Japanese chair with no legs.
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good one – though a little spooky. and a interesting legend.
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Haha! I wanted a spooky poem for Halloween. Thanks very much. 🎃 😺
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The revenge of the Caped Black Cat, claws and all, Cat Of Nine Lives, got buried on eighth, and slashed his way back.
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Slashing back can be fun! 🙂
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I’m a great back slasher !!
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That’s the spirit! I’m pretty good at side slashing.
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You Sneeky snake
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SSSSSssssssoooo true! You should hear me rattle.
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Haha, just like a kids soft toy rattle ♡♡
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I also have a forked tongue, which comes in handy when I don’t have any utensils to eat my meal. xo
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Aaah big fangs too
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The better to bite you, my dear!
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Spooky Rose….just in time for the halloween….😊
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I loooooove Halloween! Glad you were spooked, Mich.👻
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I’d never heard of the nekomata before. Lovely goosebumps from reading your beautifully spooky Halloween poem.
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Just be nice to cats, and you’ll never hear from a nekomata. Thank you, my lovely Oggy! ❤
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many greetings from the pupazzovi my friend
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Oh, Pupazzovi, hello to you, too! Grazie. xo
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Nicely done, Rose – and educational, too
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Thanks so much, Derrick! I’m sure you’ll never run into a nekomata; you’re very kind. 💗
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Never piss off a cat. Never!
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A wonderfully spooky poem Rose. 🎃
Catalicious. 🐱
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Ah, I’m purring! Thank you, Alan. 🐈
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Reminds me of my sister’s departed cat. I’m glad the feline and I made our peace before she passed.
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Sorry, Doc, I didn’t see your comment until now — it was in my spam file! It’s always good to make peace with anyone before they depart 🙂
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I like it. For me its touchy.
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Thanks! Just make sure the nekomata doesn’t become too touchy with you! 😉
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Sure 😉😉
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So many mind crunching thoughts with the vengeance of cats and yes to seek vengeance on those who abused them.
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Mind crunching — I like that! 🙂
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oh, it is ‘that’ time of the year again! xx
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YES! Time to slip into someone else’s skin… xo
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The rhythm of your spoken word didn’t falter. You’re probably pretty good at public speaking, right? Damn…that was a bad case of cat-scratch fever!
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Well, I had to re-do it 5 times before I didn’t falter too badly. Public speaking is something I don’t particularly relish, but I suppose I can do it if need be. How about you? Would you be able to make a speech in a room full of people?
Ha! You’re so funny, bro. 😀 😀
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It depends on what the audience would be expecting. I can’t spit out an elegant speech, that’s for damn sure. Do you have any issues remembering lines?
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I can remember quotes and short lines, but it would take a lot for me to memorize a whole speech. I use word association to help me with stuff I need to memorize. Like most, if I’m interested in a subject, I can regurgitate the info much easily. Don’t you find this to be true?
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I never used word association. I’m not sure I’d have much success using that technique. I prefer to improvise as much as possible.
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This is dark and eerie and excellent writing and just in time for Halloween. I wish you a scary, starry night and may all thing9 of another worldliness be with you.
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Hi JC! I’m very happy you found my poem eerie. Thank you for your lovely wish, and I hope the same for you, my dear friend. I’m a bit behind in my visits, and will be at your door soon. xo
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Perfect. Never heard of this yokai before!
It’s okay if it slashed off your head since he can raise the dead.
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I had to look up “yokai.” Thanks for a new word to add to my ghost collection!
Lol! I suppose you’re right. Clever Charles. x
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The head the all seeing the all hearing
The cats eyes are as much as soul catcher as a mans head can be
How interesting
A man and a cat
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Your words gave me chills. Shel! Thank you. Cats in folklore are supposed to be able to steal a person’s soul when they’re asleep. They lay on the victim’s chest and steal their soul through the person’s breath! Don’t sleep with your mouth open, or you’re in trouble.
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Our pet loves to sleep on our chest
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Be careful and zip up your lips!😊
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A new angle on cats. It is funny how they have a sinister reputation in so many cultures. Fine poem.
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I wonder if these cultures spread these cat stories of ill repute as excuses to eat them. Btw, did your family get a dog?
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If that cat was abused, I’m glad his ghost fought back. I didn’t know this about the Japanese legends.
My daughter was sure she felt the ghost of her cat after he died. I thought I did, too. She was a senior in high school, and it was sudden and very sad. 😦
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Yes, abusing anything should always experience karma’s wrath.
I’ve had a couple of instances of departed pet “visits.” One that will always haunt me was when we had to put down Barney, our Boston Terrier. About a couple of days afterwards, my dad was coming home from work when a UPS guy told him as he was getting back in the truck that our dog was barking like crazy behind the front door. Barney was an amazing guard dog. It felt as if he was still watching over us. That incident; however, never repeated itself. Who knows? Perhaps they find a way of saying “goodbye” and that they love us still? 😊
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Maybe, Rose. 🙂
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A person who has never hurt a cat wouldn’t know these details 😉 They are lucky to live to tell the story.
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A twisted imagination helps. 😊💋
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On a serious note. I personally know two cases when a killing of two cats ended up in a chilling tragedy.
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Ooh, I’d love to hear about it! Not only do I enjoy delicious pastries, I love just desserts even more! 🍰
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Oh I am afraid you wouldn’t like these stories. All the involved were my neighbors, and the tragedies are still so vivid in my memory. It is why I take your poem as a documentary 😉
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I understand. Thanks for the explanation. 🙂
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You gave a little fear a little fear! o.o
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Fearsome! 😊
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woah, scary ass cat 😀
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Scary ass and headlessness! I’m always happy when I scare you
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haha you sicko 😉
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😘 You say the sweetest things.
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[…] via Nekomata Cat Ghost (For Erica) — Poet Rummager […]
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You had me at nekomata. I love yokai stories! Also, the ending was kind of comedic as it ended with “ouch”.
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Thank you very much!
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Bittersweet…
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And also, just bitter😊 Thank You, Mistyrious.
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wowwwza!
i knew there’s
a reason i’ve not
had a cat 🙂
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Haha! Cats aren’t so bad if you’re nice to them. 💋
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The poem gave me goosebumps Rose, besides teaching me about Nekomata and zaisu. Hope you had a cool weekend.
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I loooove goosebumps and am only too happy to give them to my friends. 😀
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I’m a doggy person, but cats are really interesting creatures!
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Lol. There are also dog demons, so do be careful, Dina. 😊💋
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This sure sends a chill down the spine.
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Thank you for visiting, and I shall make you some warm tea to scare those chills away. ☕️
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😊😊😊👍👍
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I love your Halloween poem! I also love your blog and thank you for following BrewNSpew.
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Thanks so much! I appreciate your visit and kindness. My pleasure😊
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Very nice, Rose 🙂
Mo-hugs and kisses ❤
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Thank you Princess Mo! 💝
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Always a pleasure, Rose ❤
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I’ve never heard of these cat ghosts before – the Japanese have so many interesting myths! Lovely spooky poem, wonderful Rose!
And I love your new gravatar – those glasses suit you perfectly!!! 😄😚❤
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Ur poems r unique poet Rummager…
This poem is so humane…keep writing my friend !!!
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Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child and commented:
WOW! What a CAT!
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Lol. Thanks for reading and reblogging, Penney!
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Cool with cat ghosts. A wonderful, and yes, spooky poem.
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Ah, I’m so happy to read your endearing words. 😻Meowy Christmas, Otto!
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