A chant for a children’s pantomime dance, suggested by a picture painted by George Mather Richards.
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.
(Vachel Lindsay)
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Based on Topics: Dreams Poems, Children Poems, Dancing Poems, Mystery Poems, Slavery Poems, Cats PoemsBased on Keywords: scorned, suggested, purr, pantomime, mew, goldfish, mather, richards, catnip, cat-