Francesco Marciuliano

I’m waiting for my cat Shadow to approach me with his royalty check because I believe strongly that he wrote many of the poems in this short hilarious volume. He’s been using my keyboard for years, why not?

Which poems did he write? They aren’t directly attributed, but I believe (based on the current state of my desk) “Nudge” was definitely penned by him.

I had to be careful to keep it away from the kitten and not to read any of the poems out loud in front of him because I didn’t show more want him to get any new ideas, though based on our new morning routine he may have written “I Lick Your Nose”.

I recommend this as a fun gift for the cat lover in your life. show less

Cat lovers and cat haters agree on little, but they would agree on this collection of poems, ostensibly written by cats themselves. Cat lovers would fondly recognize the eccentricities and foibles of their beloved companions; cat haters will be reminded of all of the feline traits they most despise.

My cat Miyabi was rescued after living as a near-feral cat outside a Paducah, Kentucky, hotel for at least a year. He’s still a bit traumatized, and the poem “Unbridled Love” could have been show more written by him:

I knead your chest with my sharp claws
To show you my affection
I bite your arm and don’t let go
To show you adoration

Yep, that’s Miyabi in a nutshell. And psycho or not, I still love him. Only a little bit more than I love Franceco Marciuliano’s hilarious book of poems. show less

Why are you reading this review? You should not waste another moment on this or any other thing, but pick up a copy of I Could Pee on This and start reading it aloud to anyone and everyone, including those creatures with “wittle” furry faces. This book of poems illustrates with charming insights and humor the essence that is “Cat.” You will learn that you are not the only one whose cat deposited a dead mouse on your bed. (The one my cat brought me was most alive and uninjured, so show more consider yourself lucky that you didn’t have to chase down the dead one, just dispose of it.) You will learn how cats express love – often in painful ways – to their humans. You’ll discover the cuteness that only cats can convey with their antics. Whether they are chasing themselves in a mirror, claiming their territory, bathing while sitting on you, or walking across the room without touching the floor, cats are in charge. Get used to it. This gem of a book will help you understand a cat’s life from a cat’s viewpoint, and really, what more do you need to know? The delightful photos are just icing on the cake or maybe catnip on the kibble. This is a book you will want to own and read over and over. But don’t let your cat pee on it. show less

The Opposite of Dog Shaming / When I See You I Fart

It's not easy being a dog
Especially when your person
Thinks you look good in hats

Francesco Marciuliano, the genius behind I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats, gives dogs their day with I Could Chew on This: And Other Poems by Dogs. From the mundane ("Doorbell," "Bath," "Hoarding") to the irreverent ("On the TV," "Judgement Call," "Alpha"), truly gross ("Buffet"), and downright unexpected ("I've Been Watching") Marciuliano delves into show more the minds of our dog friends. The poems found within these pages aren't likely to win any awards, but they did win the heart of this dog lady.

(I am guardian to five rescued dogs - previously seven, but the oldest two passed just several months before this book was published - and foster mom to many. Well, just one so far - we had to take a hiatus when our oldest dog was diagnosed with cancer - but I have grand plans. The moral of the story is that I want to pet all the dogs, okay.)

The poems aren't exactly laugh out loud funny, but are rather insightful: "Another Bag" and "Time" capture the essence of the human-animal bond, in all its bittersweet glory. I was relieved to see underwear noming mentioned no fewer than two times; perhaps my late, panty-snatching wiener dog Ralphie wasn't quite the sex pervert I thought him to be? Or if he was, at least he wasn't alone in his fetish. And poo. Oh, the poo! Dog poo and bird poo and baby poo and dog poo again. Peedee the rat terrier was practically drooling over my shoulder at its frequent mention.

The poems are complemented by some pretty gorgeous photographs: we're treated to pictures of dogs crammed into raincoats and showing off their very finest ballerina attire; dogs hitching a ride in purses and dogs gnawing on shoes; big dogs and small dogs and everyone in between. Puppies are naturally very popular, but adult dogs show up to the party too. I was even happy to see my dogs represented by a terrier and a dachshund (Jack Russell and long-haired, but still).

Perfect for people who: let their dogs kiss them on the face, even though they know darn well where their snouts have been; have a collection of dog clothing that rivals their human clothing; leave the bathroom door ajar so that their dogs can always find them (always!); or make their dogs the stars of their holiday cards (doubly so if it's lieu of their kids).

http://www.easyvegan.info/2014/05/02/i-could-chew-on-this-and-other-poems-by-dog... show less