The Prologue to TERRITORY LOST”Of cats’ first disobedience, and the heightOf that forbidden tree whose doom’d ascentBrought man into the world to help us downAnd made us subject to his moods and whims,For though we...

Hamlet’s Cat’s Soliloquy”To go outside, and there perchance to stayOr to remain within: that is the question:Whether ’tis better for a cat to suffer The cuffs and buffets of inclement weatherThat Nature rains on those...

And indeed there will be timeTo wonder, ‘Do I shed?’ and, ‘Do I shed?’Time to turn back and stretch out on the bed,And give myself a bath before I’m fed –(They will say: ‘It’s the...

From CATS ARE KIND”A man said to the universe,’Sir, I exist!”Excellent,’ replied the universe,’I’ve been looking for someone to take care of my cats.

You can never know where I am or what I am,But I am good company to you nonetheless,And really do regret I broke your inkwell.”(From Meow of Myself, from LEAVES OF CATNIP)

Abyssinias”I met a traveler from an antique landWho said: A huge four-footed limestone formSits in the desert, sinking in the sand.Its whiskered face, though marred by wind and storm,Still flaunts the dainty ears, the collar...

Let us roam then, you and I,When the evening is splayed out across the sky[…]Paths that follow like a nagging accusationOf a minor violationTo lead you to the ultimate reproof …Oh, do not say, ‘Bad...

I situate myself, and seat myself,And where you recline I shall recline,For every armchair belonging to you as good as belongs to me.I loaf and curl up my tailI yawn and loaf at my ease...

The noisy jay swoops by and reviles me, he complains of my meow and my malingering.I too am not a bit subdued, I too am uncontrollable,I sound my splenetic yowl over the roof of the...

Behold the day-break!I awaken you by sitting on your chest and purring in your face,I stir you with muscular paw-prods, I rouse you with toe-bites,Walt, you have slept enough, why don’t you get up?”(From Meow...

From CATS ARE KIND”I saw a dog pursuing automobiles;On and on he sped.I was puzzled by this;I accosted the dog.’If you catch one,’ I said’What will you do with it?”Dumb cat,’ he cried,And ran on.

The End of the Raven”On a night quite unenchanting, when the rain was downward slantingI awakened to the ranting of the man I catch mice for.Tipsy and a bit unshaven, in a tone I found...

Mealtime”A mousie squealing in a trapWoke me from my morning nap.Wasn’t he so very sweetTo tell me it was time to eat?”(From A CAT’S GARDEN OF VERSES)

Ah, fish, there is no fareQuite like a flounder! They surely will not missA piece or two from stacks of sole like this;I’ll steal a few, but leave the lion’s share.Look! the lamplight on the...

If you can try to nap where someone’s sitting,Although there is another empty chair,Then rub against his ankle without quittingUntil he rises from your favorite lair;If you can whine and whimper by a portalUntil the...

To a Vase”How do I break thee? Let me count the ways.I break thee if thou art at any heightMy paw can reach, when, smarting from some slight,I sulk, or have one of my crazy...