“’Cat’s paw’ is the weather term of the day. It is a light breeze affecting a small area, such as would cause a patch of ripples on the surface of a still water surface.”

–US National Weather Service, Nashville, TN, Feb. 5, 2014

Cat’s paw breeze tickles

the water ripples,

sighs in a reflective purr.

The goose quivers in delight

on the water ripples

honks to her mate, in flight

he answers from above

the water ripples,

then settles by his love.

Crow hears their squawks

from the water ripples,

caws from his perch on the rocks.

The sound carries for miles

beyond the water ripples

to where the mockingbird smiles,

and from up in a tree

far beyond the water ripples

he sings of hearts soaring free

in cat paw tickles

water ripples trickling

sighs, caws, purrs, and cries

And I open the window–

on a catercorner breeze

to listen to his reprise.

The NaPoWriMo, Day 10 prompt is to write “a poem that starts from a regional phrase, particularly one to describe a weather phenomenon.” I don’t know what region “cat’s paw breeze” comes from, but I love it. The poem evolved because yesterday afternoon, I listened to a mockingbird put on a long concert that included the calls of other birds.