Some Little Nonsense on the Subject of Copycats

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“Coming and Going.” Although I am in the proximity of this dog and undergoing the same experience, you will note that I maintain my individuality by presenting my best angle to the camera in direct contrast to the dog rather than imitating him. And, as a side note, I was here first.


Some Little Nonsense on the Subject of Copycats

Some folks’ originality comes from what they view,
proving that old adage, “Monkey see and monkey do.”
And there’s another label coined from denizens of zoos.
A “copy cat” is one who mirrors everything he views.

But I find this last one puzzling, and so I’m asking you,
have you ever known a cat to do what you want him to?
Whatever he might see you do as he edges nearer,
is likely what he will ignore, not what he’ll choose to mirror.

It’s true that cattle move in herds and wild geese mimic flight,
and no one knows what sister acts mice practice in the night.
Yet all animals aren’t so easy, in spite of what you think.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

You cannot tell a cat to do what you want him to.
What you desire from that cat is what he will eschew.
Sit or fetch? Roll over? Those things hold no attraction.
Cats simply are not at their best when you prompt interaction.

So let’s dispel this rumor that cats are good at mimicry.
For though they like to bat at strings and other hanging gimmickry,
they don’t want to imitate any other creature.
For in the world of animals, each cat is the main feature.

The prompt today is copycat.

12 thoughts on “Some Little Nonsense on the Subject of Copycats”

  1. Marilyn Armstrong's avatarMarilyn Armstrong

    The problem, as I see it, is not that we can’t tell them what to do. We can tell them till we are blue in the face. They complete ignore us. We can’t get no respect around here … and we have DOGS. Is that fair? I ask you again … fair?

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  3. Barbara Logan's avatarBarbara Logan

    Hi Judy, I just received my first *lifelessions* and was delighted and impressed by the cleverness and creativity of your poem, *Some Little Nonsense on the Subject of Copycats*. Thanks for starting my day with a smile 🤗. Barbara Logan

    On Tue, Nov 1, 2016 at 9:04 AM, lifelessons – a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown wrote:

    > lifelessons posted: ” “Coming and Going.”Although I am in the proximity of > this dog and undergoing the same experience, you will note that I maintain > my individuality by presenting my best angle to the camera in direct > contrast to the dog rather than imitating him. And, as a” >

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