Ken's World - Cat Poems

Title

For I will consider my Cat....
For when his day's work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin & glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons, he loves the sun and the sun loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger....
For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery....
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion....
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music...

-- Christopher Smart, from Jubilate Agno

Stray Cat

Oh, what unhappy twist of fate
Has brought you homeless to my gate?
The gate where once another stood
To beg for shelter, warmth and food

For from that day I ceased to be
The master of my destiny.
While he, with purr and velvet paw
Became within my house the law.

He scratched the furniture and shed
And claimed the middle of my bed.
He ruled in arrogance and pride
And broke my heart the day he died.

So if you really think, oh Cat,
I'd willingly relive all that
Because you come forlorn and thin
Well....don't just stand there...Come on in!

-- Francis Witham

Kitten's Night Thoughts

When human folk put out the light
And think they've made it dark as night,
A pussycat sees every bit
As well as when the lights are lit.

When human folk have gone upstairs
And shed their skins and said their prayers,
And there is no one to annoy,
Then Pussy may her life enjoy.

No human hands to pinch or slap,
Or rub her fur against the nap,
Or throw cold water from a pail,
Or make a handle of her tail.

And so you will not seek it wrong,
When she can play the whole night long,
with no one to disturb her play,
That pussy goes to bed by day.

-- Oliver Herford

Cat Haiku

You never feed me. Perhaps I'll sleep on your face. That will sure show you.	You must scratch me there! Yes, above my tail! Behold, elevator butt.
Grace personified. I leap into the window. I meant to do that.	Blur of motion, then -- silence, me, a paper bag. What is so funny?
The rule for today Touch my tail, I shred your hand. New rule tomorrow.	In deep sleep hear sound cat vomit hairball somewhere will find in morning.
My small cardboard box. You cannot see me if I can just hide my head.	Humans are so strange. Mine lies still in bed, then screams My claws are not that sharp.
Cats meow out of angst "Thumbs! If only we had thumbs! We could break so much!"	You're always typing. Well, let's see you ignore my sitting on your hands.
Terrible battle. I fought for hours. Come and see! What's a "term paper"?	Small brave carnivores Kill pine cones and mosquitoes Fear vacuum cleaner
Wanna go outside. Oh, no! Help! I got outside! Let me back inside!	Oh no! Big One has been trapped by newspaper! Cat to the rescue!

Short Poems

The Wonder of the Cat

You see the beauty of the world
Through eyes of unalloyed content,
And in my study chair upcurled,
Move me to pensive wonderment.

I wish I knew your trick of thought,
The perfect balance of your ways;
They seem an inspiration, caught
From other laws in older days.

-- Anonymous

Ode To A Cat

I think that I shall never see
A cat that sheds as much as thee
Thy fur that sticks is all around
On chairs, on mats in little mounds
I sweep the floor, you shed some more
I wash the rug and you just shrug
You should give thanks I tolerate that
Or you would be a crew cut cat.

-- Marea Needle

Perversity

Confounding my human,
I ask out, having entered;
ask in, having outed,
and nip the naked heel.
Reason me no reasons.
I go by other stars.

-- Peter Neumeyer

Little Cat with Yellow Eyes

O little cat with yellow eyes,
Enthroned upon my garden gate,
Remote, impassive and sedate
And so unuttterably wise.

-- Helen Vaughan Willians

The Kitten and Falling Leaves

What intenseness of desire
In her upward eye of fire!
With a tiger-leap half-way
Now she meets the coming prey.
Lets it go as fast, and then;
Has it in her power again.
Now she works with three or four,
Like an Indian conjurer;
Quick as he in feats of art,
Far beyond in joy of heart.

-- William Wordsworth

Cat

Alluringly distant,
Seductively cool,
Disarmingly playful,
But nobody's fool.

Endearingly willful,
Aloof from the crowd,
Bewitchingly haughty,
And famously proud.

This lovable tyrant,
Beguiles and unnerves,
And makes of his master
A minion who serves.

-- Tim Hopkins

There's more! What if cats could write poetry? Click "Next" to continue . . . .