Nature

The Mysterious Cat

by Vachel Lindsay 1879–1931

From The Congo and Other Poems (1914)

Nature

I saw a proud, mysterious cat,
I saw a proud, mysterious cat
Too proud to catch a mouse or rat--
Mew, mew, mew.

But catnip she would eat, and purr,
But catnip she would eat, and purr.
And goldfish she did much prefer--
Mew, mew, mew.

I saw a cat--'twas but a dream,
I saw a cat--'twas but a dream
Who scorned the slave that brought her cream--
Mew, mew, mew.

Unless the slave were dressed in style,
Unless the slave were dressed in style
And knelt before her all the while--
Mew, mew, mew.

Did you ever hear of a thing like that?
Did you ever hear of a thing like that?
Did you ever hear of a thing like that?
Oh, what a proud mysterious cat.
Oh, what a proud mysterious cat.
Oh, what a proud mysterious cat.
Mew... mew... mew.

✦ ✦ ✦

A chant for a children's pantomime dance, suggested by a picture painted by George Mather Richards.

MLA

Lindsay, Vachel. “The Mysterious Cat.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/lindsay/62/.

Chicago

Lindsay, Vachel. “The Mysterious Cat.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/lindsay/62/.

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