Concerning Cats in Poetry 



GRIMALKIN 



AN ELEGY ON PETER, AGED TWELVE 



In vain the kindly call : in vain 



The plate for which thou once wast fain 



At morn and noon and daylight's wane, 



O King of mousers. 

 No more I hear thee purr and purr 

 As in the frolic days that were, 

 When thou didst rub thy velvet fur 



Against my trousers. 



How empty are the places where 

 Thou erst wert frankly debonair, 

 Nor dreamed a dream of feline care, 



A capering kitten. 

 The sunny haunts where, grown a cat. 

 You pondered this, considered that. 

 The cushioned chair, the rug, the mat, 



By firelight smitten. 



Although of few thou stoodst in dread. 

 How well thou knew a friendly tread. 

 And what upon thy back and head 



The stroking hand meant. 

 A passing scent could keenly wake 

 Thy eagerness for chop or steak, 

 Yet, Puss, how rarely didst thou break 



The eighth commandment. 



Though brief thy life, a little span 

 Of days compared with that of man, 

 The time allotted to thee ran 

 In smoother metre. 

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