The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

December 24, 2015

December 24, 1950

Dana Gioia (born December 24, 1950) is a writer. He headed the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003 to 2009. Gioia was born in California, to Mexican and Italian parents, and went to Harvard. 

Here is the first stanza of his poem "Alley Cat Love Song":

Come into the garden, Fred,
For the neighborhood tabby is gone.
Come into the garden, Fred,
I have nothing but my flea collar on,
And the scent of catnip has gone to my head.
I'll wait by the screen door til dawn.

Gioia now teaches at University of Southern California, where he is the Judge Widney Professor of Poetry and Public Culture.

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