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February 9, 2009
CAAF: Loose notes
"I eventually went up into that little side valley where the rhododendron thickets are and there I sat. I began to read and I read about an hour. Twice rabbits came to within ten feet of me--quivering with nerves--almost ready to drop in nervous breakdown they look when they know something's wrong but not what. I read on 100 pages then was interrupted by a cat. A black and white cat. It sat within fifteen feet of me, on a rock, and began to stare me out--very offensive. When I threw a sod at it, it just flattened and went on staring. I couldn't go on reading--the cat completely disturbing the landscape. It wasn't an interesting wildcat, and while it was there no interesting wild thing would come near, so I moved off and came home, ousted by a cat."
October 1956 letter from Ted Hughes to Sylvia Plath, Letters of Ted Hughes
Posted February 9, 2009 12:30 AM
