Monday, March 3, 2014

Lion Around


The Sleeping Gypsy, 1897, by Henri Rousseau,
image via The Mag


If you’re going to have
a pet lion
you’d better carry a stick.

He may get bored of your
pink hair, sitar strumming
and cheap wine.

After all
that fun gypsy-ing
one does, eventually,
have to eat.



© 2014 Jennifer Wagner


Ok, I’m just having a bit of poetic fun with this wonderful painting by Rousseau provided by the excellent poet and hostess Tess Kincaid at Magpie Tales.  Check out the work of other writers there--I’m sure they came up with something less cringeworthy and cliché than I did in writing to this image.  :-)  I think it’s my mood. 

And I used to have pink hair on one side.  I kinda miss it.

22 comments:

M.Z said...

Nice poem! I dont think its cringeworthy at all actually! :) It's short and straight to the point! And nice that you've had pink hair, must have looked awesome!

Fireblossom said...

Eat or be eaten! Thanks for the smile today.

Brian Miller said...

ha. yes indeed.
but how dang cool would it be to have a pet lion.
did you happen to see that guy that grew up with the lions.
watched the video earlier this week of him wrestling
with them...crazy!!!

RMP said...

Smiles...very sound advice...except the stick won't do you much good if you fall asleep...a cage (whether for you or the lion) would seem a better idea.

cats seem to be the theme with these last two posts.

Wendy Bourke said...

This is very clever and cute . . . and brought a smile.

Helen said...

Oh, this is entrancing ... great job!

Kenia Santos said...

Smiles this way too. :) I'm thinking of how I'd deal with the wild animals I myself would like t have (an elephant, a hippo and a giraffe) when they eventually got bored or hungry! :)

Take care and keep smiling.

Helena said...

heh heh heh.....huge smiles to this one!

Jinksy said...

A fun take on this Mag picture - thanks:)

Other Mary said...

Hahaha - that is fun! And you cover all the elements of this trippy painting.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Wonderful job with the picture prompt here. And you're right, that lion always has to eat...

Berowne said...

Very clever response to the prompt...

Maude Lynn said...

Hey, I like this!

Tess Kincaid said...

Clever! Love the pink hair...

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

Ah this made me smile today!

Anonymous said...

smiles ~

Truedessa said...

fun poem to read..hope that lion doesn't get hungry..

Anonymous said...

That guy who has wild lions running up to him with very obvious glee over seeing him as they leap up to hug him? That guy!!??? Definitely super crazy, but oh, so cool. Think of the amazing tales a Lion Whisperer could weave.

Anonymous said...

This is so fun. I love the playful title and the 'sitar strumming' and just the whole vibe of it.

21 Wits said...

I like the way this rolls, and I shall offer him only a fine wine, and be sure there's plenty of red meat on hand, I ever had a lion! This was fun.

janetld said...

Made me smile too! I like how you just jump in there and tell it like it is!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful start to my morning, I too write poetry blogging since 2007 but recently started a new blog.
I have just joined your followers as I like your style. Look forward to returning,
Yvonne.