"Of all God's creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat." Mark Twain
My Dear Poet Friends,
Frank's poem gave me this idea. I love cats... And I know, in our writing life these felines are so special friends for us. I have a lovely cat. I wrote for her so many things... She is in my pages all the time. This one is new for me, My old cat was dead beacuse of cancer. I thought that I have never been with a cat again. But this lovely cat was sent to me, this is so chant and another story.
I like to read about cats... Poems, stories and quotations. And I know, there are too many famous poets and writers who wrote for cats or their cats... So I decided to open a new topic for Cat Poetry. If you wish, if you interest you can post your best poems or quotations about cats...
Yes this is for CAT POETRY... Happy and enjoyable readings...
History of Cats
The history of the cat is an interesting tale with twists and turns at every few hundred years. The cat has been worshiped, adored, loathed, and persecuted by humans throughout time. To understand cats' place in todays society, it is important to know how the relationship between cats and humans began.
It has been 5000 years since man domesticated the cat. The first cat made tame was the African Wildcat. The cat wasn't domesticated to make a pet or companion; the cat was domesticated by accident.
In the Valley of the Nile (which is now Sudan, but then was Upper Egypt), the cat was first domesticated. The people in Egypt at that time consumed large amounts of grain, and they stored this grain in large storage rooms. Many rats would draw to these rooms to eat the grain and breed. The rats attracted cats who would eat the rats, thus helping to eliminate Egypt's rodent problem. People recognized this fact and left food out for the cats to encourage them to "hang around." It worked. Many cats bred and lived happy lives in Egypt destroying the plentiful rats.
Now the Pharoah had much grain that needed protection from vermin. He wanted to consficate all of the cats in Egypt and keep them near the palace graineries, but he couldn't. Cats were so popular among his people that to remove all the cats from all the people in Egypt would have caused a revolt. So, instead he cleverly declared all cats "demigods." This means that they weren't gods equal to the Pharoah's status, but they certainly were more valuable than the average person. With this plan, people could care for the demigods (cats) while they remained the official property of the Pharoah. The status of the cat shot up overnight. If anyone killed a cat, they were sentenced to death. If a house caught on fire, the cats were pulled to safety first. If a cat died of natural causes, the family had to bring the dead animal to the priest to make certain the cat's death was natural. People would sob for their cat with outwardly displays of sorrow. Shaving their eyebrows or beating their chest was a good sign of this sadness.
The Cat That Walked by Himself
"He will kill mice, and he will be kind to babies when he is in the house, just as long as they do not pull his tail too hard. But when he has done that, and between times, and when the moon gets up and night comes, he is the Cat that walks by himself, and all places are alike to him. Then he goes out to the Wet Wild Woods or up the Wet Wild Trees or on the Wet Wild Roofs, waving his wild tail and walking by his wild lone."
Rudyard Kipling
Pussy Can Sit by the Fire and Sing
Pussy can sit by the fire and sing,
Pussy can climb a tree
Or play with a silly old cork and string
To 'muse herself, not me.
But I like Binkie my dog, because
He knows how to behave;
So, Binkie's the same as the First Friend was,
And I am the Man in the Cave!
Pussy will play Man Friday till
It's time to wet her paw
and make her walk on the window-sill
(For the footprint Crusoe saw);
Then she fluffles her tail and mews,
And scratches and won't attend
But Binkie will play whatever I choose,
And he is my true First Friend!
Pussy will rub my knees with her head
Pretending she loves me hard;
But the very minute I go to my bed
Pussy runs out in the yard,
And there she stays till the morning-light;
So I know it is only pretend
And he is my Firstest Friend.
Rudyard Kipling
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
There's a whisper down the line at 11:39
When the Night Mail's ready to depart,
Saying 'Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble?
We must find him or the train can't start.'
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster's daughters
They are searching high and low,
Saying 'Skimble where is Skimble for unless he's very nimble
Then the Night Mail just can't go.'
At 11:42 then the signal's nearly due
And the passengers are frantic to a man -
Then Skimble will appear and he'll saunter to the rear:
He's been busy in the luggage van!
He gives one flash of his glass-green eyes
And the signal goes 'All Clear!'
And we're off at last for the northern part
Of the Northern Hemisphere!
You may say that by and large it is Skimble who's in charge
Of the Sleeping Car Express.
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards
He will supervise them all, more or less.
Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
Of the travellers in the First and in the Third;
He establishes control by a regular patrol
And he'd know at once if anything occurred.
He will watch you without winking and he sees what you are thinking
And it's certain that he doesn't approve
Of hilarity and riot, so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on them ove.
You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks!
He's a Cat that cannot be ignored;
So nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks is aboard.
Oh it's very pleasant when you have found your little den
With your name written up on the door.
And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet
And there's not a speck of dust on the floor.
There is every sort of light - you can make it dark or bright;
There's a button that you turn to make a breeze.
There's a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in
And a crank to shut the window if you sneeze.
Then the guard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly
'Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?'
But Skimble's just behind him and was ready to remind him,
For Skimble won't let anything go wrong.
And when you creep into your cosy berth
And pull up the counterpane,
You are bound to admit that it's very nice
To know that you won't be bothered by mice -
You can leave all that to the Railway Cat,
The Cat of the Railway Train!
In the middle of the night he is always fresh and bright;
Every now and then he has a cup of tea
With perhaps a drop of Scotch while he's keeping on the watch,
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea.
You were fast asleep at Crewe and so you never knew
That he was walking up and down the station;
You were sleeping all the while he was busy at Carlisle,
Where he greets the stationmaster with elation.
But you saw him at Dumfries, where he summons the police
If there's anything they ought to know about:
When you get to Gallowgate there you do not have to wait -
For Skimbleshanks will help you to get out!
He gives you a wave of his long brown tail
Which says: 'I'll see you again!
You'll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
The Cat of the Railway Train.'
T S Eliot
The Naming of Cats
The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, or George or Bill Bailey -
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter -
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum -
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover -
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
T S Eliot
The Cat and the Moon
The cat went here and there
and the moon spun round like a top,
and the nearest kin of the moon,
the creeping cat, looked up.
Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,
for, wander and wail as he would,
the pure cold light in the sky
troubled his animal blood.
Minnaloushe runs in the grass
lifting his delicate feet.
Do you dance, Minnaloushe, do you dance?
When two close kindred meet,
what better than call a dance?
Maybe the moon may learn,
tired of that courtly fashion,
a new dance turn.
Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
from moonlit place to place,
the sacred moon overhead
has taken a new phase.
Does Minnaloushe know that his pupils
will pass from change to change,
and that from round to crescent,
from crescent to round they range?
Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
alone, important and wise,
and lifts to the changing moon
his changing eyes.
William Butler Yeats
The cat went here and there
And the moon spun round like a top,
And the nearest kin of the moon,
The creeping cat, looked up.
Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,
For, wander and wail as he would,
The pure cold light in the sky
Troubled his animal blood.
Minnaloushe runs in the grass
Lifting his delicate feet.
Do you dance, Minnaloushe, do you dance?
William Butler Yeats
Cats
They are alike, prim scholar and perfervid lover:
When comes the season of decay, they both decide
Upon sweet, husky cats to be the household pride;
Cats choose, like them, to sit, and like them, shudder.
Like partisans of carnal dalliance and science,
They search for silence and the shadowings of dread;
Hell well might harness them as horses for the dead,
If it could bend their native proudness in compliance.
In reverie they emulate the noble mood
Of giant sphinxes stretched in depths of solitude
Who seem to slumber in a never-ending dream;
Within their fertile loins a sparkling magic lies;
Finer than any sand are dusts of gold that gleam,
Vague starpoints, in the mystic iris of their eyes.
Charles Baudelaire
with my love
Nia
If Nia should visit - this thread is now sticky, Frank. 29 Feb 2006
Gender: Age: 53 Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 5490 Location: Poetry Land of the Universe
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:52 pm Post subject:
Barrens Mom,
Yes dogs are different... but I have a long time that I lived with so many cats together, I can say this is not exactly true... Just we need time to know each other( with us and cats...) Cats want to be in freedom... You can't put her in a cage... She is always in her freedom... even at home. Not like a dog... You can't teach anything to a cat; she learns If she wants...
I don't want to make a seperate between dogs and cats... I love dogs very much... They are all our real friends... But I just wanted to share some poems and quotations about cats... As you know, there are too many poets and writers, they wrote many poems for them... This is also can be for dogs, for horses, for birds... maybe you want to open a new topic for them.
On the other hand, cats are very special in my life... especially my writing life... I can read my book with them, I can write with them, they are always with me on my desk... even she can listen to my music... she is my friend. But this is not only for me, many poets, many writers have a cat. This is very special friendship between cats and writers... I can't say cats are best... All animals are best... This is one the window of them...
Gender: Age: 33 Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 836 Location: West Virginia
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:56 pm Post subject:
Nia,
Thank you for this post on cats. I have not had a chance to read it all yet, I have to get ready for a company picnic tonight.... but I will read it all later and give you my thoughts.
I am a huge cat lover. I have two cats right now: Ruby and Rosey - mother and daughter who look very much alike. _________________ Nobody wants advice, only corroboration.
Gender: Age: 53 Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 5490 Location: Poetry Land of the Universe
Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 4:04 pm Post subject:
"Ruby and Rosey"
Dear Circusqueen,
They must be beautiful... I am glad to hear this. and also It is so nice that this topic is interesting for you, Please come back with your favourite poems or quotations about cats... I have one, she is my Princess.
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 4:01 am Post subject: Cats
Hi nia,
I found this by accident. Glad I did. At one time I had a cat who had kittens.....can't take children away from their mom...babies had babies. I ended up with 12. Then I was at a zoo and someone was giving away a few, not so healthy, kittens. With everyone trying to find the healthiest one, I took the sickest. Needless to say, I ended up with 13. My mom had a dog and couldn't keep it any more....yes..I took her too. They all got a long. 13 cats and 1 dog. I can tell you...both animals can be companions as well as guard, protect and act like kids. The only real difference is dogs need more grooming and bathroom attention.
Had to throw in my 2 cents on the subject. Couldn't resist.
Smile,
kitten
Hi MOM
Didn't call myself 'dog' .....sounded too masculine.
Smile,
kitten
Gender: Age: 53 Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 5490 Location: Poetry Land of the Universe
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:45 am Post subject:
"A dog will flatter you but you have to flatter the cat."George Mikes
My Dear Kitten,
That's really nice to hear your kittens... Once upon a time I had a dog, he was so beautiful, but my cat and my dog didn't live together! My cat was old one in our home, dog was new one, and my son took him to the home. Then the big war began in our home. I felt my self as a policeman!!!! It was a real terrible for us. I was standing in the middle between my dog and my cat. They didn't let to each other to eat or to sleep or to come my arms... and so? at the end we gave our dog to our friend. This was a very bad experience for us. But I learned one thing If we want to look after dog and cat, we must take dog at first... and then a kitten. It can be so easy to use to each other and love to each other...
Thank you Kitten for sharing your kittens... You know I love poerty as I love the cats... so I want to share much more poems again.
Happy readings and enjoybale times,
with my love
Nia
Kittens! Kittens!
Kittens kittens everywhere
Kittens chewing on my hair
Kittens climbing up my jeans
Kittens hanging from the screens
There's a kitten on each shoulder
Will they do this when they're older?
Kittens fighting on the chairs
Kittens tumbling down the stairs
There's a kitten on my head
There's a kitten in the bread!
There's a kitten in my shoe
I don't believe we just have two!
William Wordsworth
I'm Only a Cat
I'm only a cat,
and I stay in my place...
Up there on your chair,
on your bed or your face!
I'm only a cat,
and I don't finick much...
I'm happy with cream
and anchovies and such!
I'm only a cat,
and we'll get along fine...
As long as you know
I'm not yours... you're all mine!
I don't think dog would have worked in this case. Babies of all animals are adorable. As a kid I lived on a farm, we had baby pigs and they were soooo cute, of course they grew up
Mom _________________ As I tell Barren_Wastes
" I brought you into this
world I can take you out".
You can be two-faced, you can be fake,
You can tip the ketchup atop the cake,
Might even mix up Milton and Blake
But your cat can't make a mistake.
You can be tardy, you can sleep in,
Might even commit some mortal sin
But leave a bag there for a cat to leap in
And your cat won't make a mistake.
You can worry and you can fret
But Mister Cat regrets nothin yet
The furry one's master, don't you forget
The furry one's master make no mistake! _________________ ...how white and clean Progress seemed, pure as this first thing, fireball on a pedestal of desire...
Gender: Age: 53 Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 5490 Location: Poetry Land of the Universe
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:28 pm Post subject:
MY DEAR FRIEND FRANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH for this poem; I hope all cat lovers will like this...
we (my cat Princess and I) love you so much...
with my love
Nia
MY CAT
I dote on your faithflessness
My dear cat
And your ineffable aloofness
Which typifies that
Very essence of catness
That so captivates.
You owe no obediance
You know no overlord
To you I am a hindrance to be casually ignored.
And yet I love your obstinacy
My indomitable cat
Despite your cute propensity
To crush me like a gnat.
"Meow" you'll say
In your innocent way
Amid a frantic feed me now display
While I struggle with your meal
You're scratching biting at my heel
I guess I even get your zeal.
Another feature I revere
My oh so precious pet
Is how you never once appear
If I should call you, yet
Your effortless charm
Soon retores repose
With that gift to disarm
By a sniff of that nose.
I tolerate your way-outness
You must stay-out cat
Even though stay-inness is where I'm at.
But you have your uses
I will admit to you
Among those abuses
Well one or two.
I rely on your skill at hunting
My killer cat
That's what your man is wanting
When beset by mouse or rat.
But did I ask you all those birds to gather?
I do wish you wouldn't but you would rather.
So why do I even like you tortuous cat?
Am I like Eliza's professor
Accustomed to each spat?
Enthrall to my transgressor
Hapless ball to your big bat.
But though I may feel your superior
And may well thus so aver
You can reduce me to inferior
Via one delightful purr.
Now at last to you so artful cat
I fondly doff a metaphorical hat.
Frank E Gibbard
Fri Jul 29, 2005
Gender: Age: 53 Joined: 16 May 2005 Posts: 5490 Location: Poetry Land of the Universe
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:20 pm Post subject:
"Might even mix up Milton and Blake
But your cat can't make a mistake. "
"The furry one's master, don't you forget
The furry one's master make no mistake!"
My Dear (mtc732),
Thank you for your lines... I am very glad to hear you, By the way we haven't met before I think, so this is nice again. Cat poetry makes us to meet...
My Dear Kitten, where are you? I hope you are fine, Do you forget us because of your cats:)
from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by TS Eliot
Macavity - The Mystery Cat
Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw--
For he's the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime--Macavity's not there!
Macavity, Macavity, there's no on like Macavity,
He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity.
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare,
And when you reach the scene of crime--Macavity's not there!
You may seek him in the basement, you may look up in the air--
But I tell you once and once again, Macavity's not there!
Macavity's a ginger cat, he's very tall and thin;
You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in.
His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly doomed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.
He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake;
And when you think he's half asleep, he's always wide awake.
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
For he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.
You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square--
But when a crime's discovered, then Macavity's not there!
He's outwardly respectable. (They say he cheats at cards.)
And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard's.
And when the larder's looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,
Or when the milk is missing, or another Peke's been stifled,
Or the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair--
Ay, there's the wonder of the thing! Macavity's not there!
And when the Foreign Office finds a Treaty's gone astray,
Or the Admiralty lose some plans and drawings by the way,
There may be a scap of paper in the hall or on the stair--
But it's useless of investigate--Macavity's not there!
And when the loss has been disclosed, the Secret Service say:
"It must have been Macavity!"--but he's a mile away.
You'll be sure to find him resting, or a-licking of his thumbs,
Or engaged in doing complicated long division sums.
Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macacity,
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
He always has an alibit, or one or two to spare:
And whatever time the deed took place--MACAVITY WASN'T THERE!
And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
(I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)
Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time
Just controls their operations: the Napoleon of Crime!
NO !! I haven't forgotten you.....kittens / dogs have nothing to do with it. Just been extremely busy with work and such. Need to make this short, 'cuz I need to run out again.
Be back when have more time, promise,
kitten
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I don't think dog would have worked in this case. Babies of all animals are adorable. As a kid I lived on a farm, we had baby pigs and they were soooo cute, of course they grew up 
