The Singing Cat
The Singing Cat
by Stevie Smith
It was a little captive cat
Upon a crowded train
His mistress takes him from his box
To ease his fretful pain.
She holds him tight upon her knee
The graceful animal
And all the people look at him
He is so beautiful.
But oh he pricks and oh he prods
And turns upon her knee
Then lifteth up his innocent voice
In plaintive melody.
He lifteth up his innocent voice
He lifteth up, he singeth
And to each human countenance
A smile of grace he bringeth.
He lifteth up his innocent paw
Upon her breast he clingeth
And everybody cries, Behold
The cat, the cat that singeth.
He lifteth up his innocent voice
He lifteth up, he singeth
And all the people warm themselves
In the love his beauty bringeth.
Curator’s Note. Poetry can show us how much we all have in common, that we all share the same questions and feelings. Take cats, for example. This sweet little poem tells us a story between a cat and humans, and the mutual joy they get to share. It’s a wonderful poem to read aloud - great fun, give it a try.
