Poems of Bill Cattey

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Date-Ordered Poems
Most recent poems appear first.
Unfinished poems appear in the Works in Progress section below.
The dates on the poems are somewhat inconsistent. Older poems are dated from the first draft I felt like showing to anyone else. More recent poems were dated from when the big chunk of inspiration hit, and the basic transcription from idea to page was done.
Poems labeled "revised" indicate a point where a revision was made that represents a big change.
The Measure of a Man20 January 2016
Optimism 28 August 2015
Overcoming Performance Anxiety 27 August 2015
Re-Upholstering-My-Mind-in-Paisley25 August 2015
Genesis -- Corrected Translation 15 March 2015
Music is the Elixir of Life 4 March 2015
Another victim of reality17 February 2015
Misplaced Attention17 February 2015
Papercut 6 July 2014
I like the one-liners -- they're short.5 July 2014
Choosing Your Own Adventure17 November 2013
Dangerous Beliefs 16 November 2013 revised 29 August 2015 (unfinished)
Try Softer 20 August 2013
Necessity Is The Mother of Comprehension6 August 2013
Ecology Viewed From Afar30 July 2013
Meditation for Personal Evolution 7 July 2013
I Like Working With People5 August 2011
Marketing to an Engineer27 July 2011
Recapturing Fun I -- Writing21 July 2011
Recapturing Fun II -- Computers21 July 2011
A Flash of Lust5 July 2011
Prioritization Paradox2 June 2011
Unemployment 16 May 2011 revised 6 August 2014
Memorial Disservice 16 December 2010
Your Calling 16 October 2010
Falling Towards Self Knowledge23 September 2010
Brain Damage 19 July 2010
Nerd or Geek 19 July 2010
Ring Zero 19 July 2010
Epistemological-Enigma1 February 2010
The REAL source of success27 October 2009
Weather Control 27 August 2009
Hope and Affirmation26 August 2009
The Waiter 28 July 2009
Points on a Line 27 June 2009
Happy Anniversary 28 August 2008
Rave Restaurant Review17 November 2006
He's Not From Around Here26 August 2006
Rational Fears26 August 2006
A Crucial Matter of Identityc. 2006
New Depths of Self Acceptance4 April 2005
Xanadu 4 April 2005
Yahweh -- The Great 'I Am' 14 March 2005
Listening 19 December 2004
Is it soup yet? 14 December 2004
B. To Me And Back Again 13 December 2004
The Bells! The Bells! 12 December 2004
Divestiture 12 December 2004
A Man To Avoid 12 December 2004
My Clique 12 December 2004
The Alpha and Omega of Stubbornness 26 September 2004
Cultivating Serenity 27 August 2004
Realization 27 August 2004
Why I Like Rainy Days 25 July 2004
A Glass of Wine with Breakfast? 21 July 2004
What Does He Have That I Want? 21 July 2004
Evolution 20 July 2004
The GALA 2004 Festival 20 July 2004
The Other One 20 February 2004
Holidays are S'posed to be Special 17 February 2004
Quiet Comes as a Welcome Change 3 February 2004
New Boss 30 January 2004
Scents and Decorum 12 October 2003
Insight 9 October 2003
Lacking Mystique 8 October 2003
Revenge II 8 October 2003
Blue Denim Boy 28 September 2003
Revenge 9 September 2003
He gave me pause 20 August 2003
Paradise 20 August 2003
Blur 19 August 2003
The Poems of Mark Doty 19 August 2003
Art For Health's Sake 23 March 2003
Empty my mind for sleep 23 March 2003
And Now a Word From Our Sponsor 5 February 2003
Aftershocks 3 February 2003
Confession 14 January 2003
The Rules 14 January 2003
The Best Self 7 January 2003
Desire II 10 November 2002
Another Point of Departure 26 October 2002
Cleanup time? 26 October 2002
Is There a(nother) Poet in the House? 26 October 2002
Observer Observed 26 October 2002
Outwrite Background 26 October 2002
Outwrite Cutie 26 October 2002
Outwrite Departure 26 October 2002
Outwrite Introduction 26 October 2002
Outwrite Sofa 26 October 2002
The Universe Hiccups 26 October 2002
Vos Pantalons 26 October 2002
Auntie Jean has ALS 24 October 2002
Reality Check 28 August 2002
Community 26 August 2002
Wannabe 24 August 2002
Microcosmic Regret 23 August 2002
Magick or Illusion 22 August 2002
Desire 21 August 2002
Homemade Pornography 21 August 2002
Textile Comfort 20 August 2002
Revelation 10 August 2002
Accidental Tryst 22 July 2002
Disappointment 22 July 2002
Grace 8 July 2002
Cell-free Cafe 7 July 2002
The Chemistry of Commitment 12 May 2002
Emancipation 12 May 2002
Design for Loving 4 May 2002
Flashback Attack 15 April 2002
Flower in the Wild 14 April 2002
Tai Chi Driving 13 April 2002
The Way 4 March 2002
Consumed 28 February 2002
Duh! 24 February 2002
Blues Cruise 18 February 2002
Reset 18 February 2002
Breaking the Habit of Feeling Bad About Myself 23 January 2002
On Truth, Faith, and the Cycle of Interpretation 23 January 2002
Craving Communion 20 January 2002
Blindsided II 13 January 2002
Leave Taking 13 January 2002
The Oldest Profession 5 January 2002
En Route to Niagara Falls 25 December 2001
Generations 25 December 2001
Youth 3 September 2001
Asymmetry Anxiety 25 August 2001
Poem Out of Reach 25 August 2001
Poetry Hiatus 25 August 2001
Solace in a Cup of Tea 25 August 2001
Attachment 24 August 2001
Recovering From Burnout 24 August 2001
No Longer Living in my Living Room 23 August 2001
When I Dance 23 August 2001
How Do They Do That? 24 July 2001
Judgment 24 July 2001
A Walk on the Beach 20 July 2001
Questions About Friends 25 February 2001
Reading at Stone Soup 12 January 2001
A Little Loss of Balance 7 January 2001
Words of Love 1 January 2001
The Ex That Wouldn't Leave 30 December 2000
Two Kinds of Trust 29 December 2000
The Burden of Worry 15 December 2000
The Morning After 10 November 2000 revised 31 July 2002
To V. 8 November 2000
Courage 3 November 2000 revised 2 August 2002
That Demon Desperation 3 November 2000 revised 31 July 2002
Manners 29 October 2000
Afterglow 22 October 2000 revised 25 March 2002
Platonica 22 October 2000 revised 25 March 2002
A Question of Hope 17 October 2000
My 1986 Pet Shop Boy 14 October 2000 revised 25 December 2001
Prayer 13 October 2000
Dreams of Workplace Harassment 27 September 2000
Strength 26 September 2000
Secret Admirations 20 September 2000 revised 26 December 2000
Muse -- Reprise 12 September 2000
Satisfaction 12 September 2000
Handle With Care 24 August 2000
Helping Hand 24 August 2000
Blindsided 20 August 2000
Country Dancer 20 August 2000
Invitation 30 July 2000
22 Year Olds of All Ages 7 July 2000
Stress -- Or not 7 July 2000 Revised 4 February 2002
Call Back Soon 6 June 2000
I Need Your Help 6 June 2000
Loneliness 6 June 2000
The Scent of Distraction 6 June 2000
Getting Over It 19 March 2000
The Poem That Got Away 19 March 2000
Parallel Lines 7 March 2000
Addiction 1 March 2000
Moon 44 15 February 2000
Age 14 February 2000 revised 13 March 2000
He is 9 February 2000
One Minute Vacations 4 February 2000
Muse 3 February 2000
Often / Often 3 February 2000 revised 13 October 2000
Qualities 31 January 2000
Autobiography -- A Work in Progress 22 January 2000 revised 24 January 2001
The Story of B. 22 January 2000 revised 14 February 2000
Stopping Time 18 January 2000 revised 20 August 2000
Trifle 24 Feb 2000
The Shaman's Lament 1 Jan 2000
Who 1 Jan 2000
Extemporaneous Poetry On the subject of Xopher 7 December 1998
Beautiful Surprise 3 December 1998
David 3 December 1998 revised 16 February 2000
Lilies 3 December 1998
At the Disco 23 March 1996
The Top Ten Things Twinkies Cannot be Trusted With 23 November 1995
Who Is He? 24 September 1995
My Return 25 June 1995
The Zen of Big Bird 25 October 1992
Always Carry a Pen c. January 1990
A Quiet Party Fantasy 30 March 1984
In the Laundromat 26 March 1984
You Are a Good Example 25 March 1984
Part of Me From You c. March 1984
What Am I Feeling? c. March 1984
Home 27 October 1982
Alone 6 March 1979
Raison d'etre 6 March 1979
Phases 5 March 1979
Music 23 February 1979
What is happening to me? 23 February 1979
When I Sing c. June 1978
Interlude c. May 1976
Turtle c. March 1969

Works in Progress
A Culture of Reality Distortion 4 November 2015 (unfinished)
Altered States 22 August 2015 (unfinished)
Why Naked? 6 August 2014 (unfinished)
Habits 6 July 2014 (unfinished)
I Choose 5 July 2014 (unfinished)
When 26 December 2000 (unfinished)
Fandom Renunciate 28 October 2000 (unfinished) revised 20 August 2006
Sisters 14 October 2000 (unfinished)
Love Drug 13 October 2000 (unfinished)
Four Needs 1 June 2000 (unfinished)
Bad Match c. April 2000 (unfinished)
Everything Sings 19 August 1970 (unfinished)