Home/Literary Panorama/My Honest Loyal Furry Friends: Dogs and Cats in Literature/
Back
From "Tools" to "Companions"
訊息
OK
My Honest Loyal Furry Friends: Dogs and Cats in Literature
From "Tools" to "Companions"
Cats & Dogs on a Mission｜Being Cute is Enough／Being Lazy is The Best｜You're Being Difficult!｜Something Missing
The relationships between humans and cats/dogs have constantly evolved throughout history. In the beginning, humans regarded dogs and cats as subordinate creatures, but gradually the relationships turned into companionship. In fact, the roles have been completely reversed. Humans now call themselves "poop cleaners" and "slaves," making the task of serving their dogs/cats at home a source of fun in life.
Cats & Dogs on a Mission
In earlier days, keeping a cat or a dog was mostly for certain purposes. Humans considered cats/dogs subordinate creatures. To prevent the residence from being damaged and maintain peace, humans sent out the lovely and upright fighters, the always-on-call cats and dogs. They bore the responsibilities of catching mice and standing guard, preventing the food in the house from being eaten or money from being stolen.
The big mouse ate my food for no reason at all. It kept me awake all night like an owl. All mice have sharp teeth. It is difficult to get rid of them since they climb through the inside of the walls. I wish I had gotten a cat earlier!
—Li Shuo-qing, "Four Poems about Mice: No.2"
Being Cute is Enough／Being Lazy is The Best
Cats and dogs nowadays are no longer used as tools. Instead, they become companions of humans, developing relationships of mutual reliance. Their mission is to "play cute." Humans are responsible for working hard and making money to buy food for their pets. Humans no longer keep dogs or cats for catching mice or standing guard. The important purpose of having a pet dog or cat is to keep each other company. Cats and dogs are engaged in the everyday life of humans. We observe and learn about their routines and moods, and vice versa.
The tabby cat at home is slow and not arrogant at all. It sits by the window all day looking relaxed. Whenever its hungry, it cries for food while seated.
—Chen Zhan-ming "Three Lazy Cat Poems: No.3"
ฅ(=^ ω ^=)ฅ
Grandpa would stroke Nu Nu with a bit of unfamiliarity and stiffness, just like a young child getting to learn about new things. He turned everything he saw into words: "Her body is white, but her ears are yellow." "The fur on her tail is the prettiest." "Her teeth are so sharp…did you say her teeth also change?"
—Wu Dao-yun "Grandpa and My Sister Nu Nu," PUT ITS PAW ON YOUR PALM
✤ Manuscript of "Street Dog"｜This modern poem written by Xu Ren-xiu depicts the firm friendship between a child and his best friend, a street dog. The dog not only does what it is told and patrols the village the whole night, but also heals the wounds on the child's body and soul.（From the National Museum of Taiwan Literature permanent collection／Donated by Xu Ren-xiu）
✤ Manuscript of "A Cat in My Heart"｜This modern poem written by Lin Huan-chan is accompanied by illustrations. It depicts how cat-loving hibernators have a cat in their heart that soothes their soul with warmth.（From the National Museum of Taiwan Literature permanent collection／Donated by Lin Huan-chan）
✤ Manuscript of "The Cat on My Mind"｜This modern poem written by Lin Huan-chan writes about how the poet's eyes concentrate on the cat, whereas the cat's bright eyes are focused entirely on the mermaid. The poet wants to ignore the cat in a fit of pique, but he still misses it, which is a familiar story for all cat owners.（From the National Museum of Taiwan Literature permanent collection／Donated by Lin Huan-chan）
✤ Manuscript of "Love. Let the Cat Say It"｜This modern poem written by Lin Huan-chan tells about how we should let the cat talk about love. The cat laments how the big fish outside the window ignores it, showing the same attention people pay to cats.（From the National Museum of Taiwan Literature permanent collection／Donated by Lin Huan-chan）
You're Being Difficult!
It is said that "cats and dogs shed their fur twice every year, and the shedding each time takes 6 months to finish." Apart from the countless shed fur, there is also countless fun with your dogs or cats.
In Mandarin, there is an expression: "you've got a lot of fur!" It means that a person is being difficult or finicky. But when it comes to your furry friends, you will not say this to them. Though you look reluctant and always complain about them, your actions reveal your true thoughts as you show off their artistic creations on social media: the cat that is always on your keyboard and accidentally knocks down the vase, or the puppy that is always begging for food and destroying the sofa or the entire house.
However, there is mutual forgiveness between owners and their dogs or cats. Our furry friends also tolerate us when we wake up too late to get them food or walk them, or when we commit the worse crime, buying a toy that they're completely uninterested in.
The cat came to set a seal with his body; it was the type of looting without any sound.
In the metro carriage during the busiest hours, I all of a sudden realized the passengers who tried hard to keep balance by holding on to the handrails had their black coats covered with small fur that was silver white, yellow then black, black then grey. In the timeless wilderness, I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging here; "Oh, are you also here?" Did you leave home without cleaning the cat fur?
—Yang Chia-hsien, "Forget about the Cat Fur. It's Better Not to Offend the Cats," THE CAT ASURA
ฅ(=• ω •=)ฅ
He is a mix between a hunting dachshund and a companion Chihuahua. He has the characteristics of both breeds. Sometimes he zooms like crazy from the study through the living room to the bedroom; sometimes he goes around the sofa, making several turns. I worry about him hurting himself. Yet, he takes pleasure in this as he demonstrates his wonderful adroitness. Sometimes he smiles with his teeth showing. Is he showing off or does he try to please me?
When I work in front of the computer, he sometimes jumps on my lap, so I have to cross my legs to make sure he's comfortable. A completely snuggly pet dog.
—Lin Shui-fu, "Timid Momo and Naughty Paco"
Something Missing
After a long time of being together, you might feel strange if you don't take your dog out for a walk or clean its poop for a day.
One day, when a human doesn't do these things anymore, there will be many crevices in time, space, and affections. There will be a hole in the shape of his/her dog or cat. Then, the hole will be filled with memories. People think about their cats and dogs, their sounds and the days spent with them. Literary works filled with remembrance of pet dogs and cats have therefore appeared.
My cat is missing. I have waited the whole night, but it didn't come home. My dear cat, have you forgotten our friendship and left for a wealthy family to enjoy delicious fish?
—-Lian Guo-cai, "Losing My Cat"
The poet's cat is missing. He is reluctant to think that the cat has probably gotten into an accident and would never come back, so he makes up the excuse that the cat has forgotten about their friendship and gone to a better family so that he himself can be convinced that nothing bad has happened.
ฅ(=ˇωˇ=)ฅ
So, I often drive for an hour to see Puma. I poured a bit of water in the familiar blue plastic bowl and sat cross-legged on the floor. I carefully tore off the pages of my serial novel on NEXT MAGAZINE, folded them, and put them next to the cremation box of Puma.
"Look, I try very hard to remember you and haven't forgot about you at all. I even wrote down your story for the most popular magazine in Taiwan. Isn't that impressive?" I laughed softly and stroked his head: "I, your brother, have really become someone big."
Not just someone big, but someone who loves you.
A superman that loves you so much that is able to sleep for many days with your pee on the bed.
—Giddens Ko, "Remember to Tell Bodhisattva," MISSING YOU OVER THE YEARS
Image shows
Source：
