Cat on the Mat

[osprey_archer]

Another cat poem. I’ve nearly finished the book of cat poetry; time to move on the my collection of Russian poets soon.

Cat on the Mat
By J. R. R. Tolkien

The fat cat on the mat
may seem to dream
of nice mice that suffice
for him, or cream;
but he is free, maybe,
walks in thought
unbowed, proud, where loud
roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim,
or deep in den
in the East feasted on beasts
and tender men.

The giant lion with iron
claw in paw,
and huge ruthless tooth
in gory jaw;
the pard dark-starred
fleet upon feet,
that oft soft from aloft
leaps on his meet
where words loom in gloom -
far now they be
fierce and free
and tamed is he;
but fat cat on the mat
kept as pet
he does not forget.

Comments

[asakiyume]

I remember this poem! I love it! The last two lines. I do love all his internal rhymes; they're great.

[osprey_archer]

It's sort of like a rap song, isn't it, with all those internal rhymes? This was written before rap existed so he must have been inspired by something else (probably some kind of ancient epic poetry, knowing Tolkien), but there's a sort of convergent evolution there that is interesting.

[asakiyume]

It makes me think of Gerard Manley Hopkins--the same delight in sounds.

[brigdh]

Oh, this is lovely. I adore the way the rhymes work.

[osprey_archer]

It's just so fun to read.