“Dogs think people are God, but cats don’t. Cats are aware of God’s existence. Cats know that people act as middlemen to God’s will. They’re not ungrateful, they just know better.”
– unnamed Instanbul resident in the film, kedi
“kedi” (2016) is a documentary by Ceyda Torun. The blurb at imdb describes it as, “A profile of an ancient city and its unique people, seen through the eyes of the most mysterious and beloved animal humans have ever known, the Cat.”
The reasons I chose to write my poem about “kedi” are several. Firstly the cats are revered in Instanbul! The love, care, and stewardship consistently shown by the humans in Instanbul with the cats is precious. Secondly, it shows Istanbul, Turkey, up close and personal, unlike I’ve ever seen it in film before. Thirdly, Kedi is directed by a woman, and women’s films so often get minimized or overlooked. Fourthly, the quality and heart that is manifested within Kedi was uplifting. Lastly, the cats in Kedi are delightful and entertaining!
Today’s offering is a cinquain
kedi
boddhisattvas
furred wells of alchemy
warm hearts and minds in Istanbul
feline
This is a trailer and a way to watch the documentary online. (I was able to borrow it from my local library at no cost!)
Tao Talk 
Furred walls of alchemy indeed! I completely agree! What a delightful cinquain. <3
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so glad you like the cinquain. the way the people in Istanbul adopt the kedi but accept their roaming at will is so spiritual to me.
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My brother has been to Turkey and he says they really care for their strays. I’m hoping my stray is safe, because the management will remove her on Friday if they find her in the common area, and I am pretty sure they will kill her. I can’t keep her or I would, I’m so worried.
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the movie is all about how the people take care of the cats. they are more than strays. they are an accepted part of the community. you have to find a way to keep your cat safe (notice i didn’t say stray — she adopted you!)
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Lovely cinquain! Thanks for the info shared.
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glad you liked it. i can’t stop thinking about how the community accepts the cats roaming around and takes care of them. the documentary also talks about how “development” is knocking down some of their market spaces and high rise buildings come in and take away space for the vendors and the cats. why why why :(
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I guess some questions remain unanswered.
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Of course cats are aware of the existence of God. Ask any cat, they’ll surely answer they ARE God! 😉
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Love this post and adored this film! :)
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Ah so glad you saw it. It really touched my heart, the openness of the people and how they care for the cats and the stories of each cat.
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I loved it so much. I cannot imagine a life without cats and the slice-of-life feel to the film was so endearing
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Imagine my surprise at seeing a word from my mother tongue in my WordPress feed… and the poem that followed was so sweet I wanted to meow to it. No, I’m totally serious.
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Wow, so you are from Turkey? Have you been to Istanbul to see the cats?
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Yes, I’m Turkish. Born and raised (for the most part.) I did go to Istanbul, but not to see the cats – not that the cats weren’t everywhere… ;)
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