My Cat Jeoffry: A Poem by Christopher Smart

by Martin Leman, Christopher Smart

Illustrations highlight the eighteenth-century poem relating the antics of Jeoffry the cat.

Genres: Poetry, Cats

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Sarah Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short poem taken from a much larger poem written by its author when he was in an institution. It is a religious song of praise for the cat. The cat a product of the divine that serves it.

[Sam Cox]

“he believed that he saw and felt the presence of God in everything, including Jeoffry.” and this, too, is the gift

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excerpt from the longer "Jubilate Agno," this poem is available online:
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/pr...

Christopher "Kit" Smart wrote this poem while locked in an asylum, with a cat as his unique companion. The pain of solitary confinement and the comfort of housecats are, here, inextricable:

"For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, though he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep."

[MollyK · Rating 5 out of 5]

For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, though he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.

*Upon reread I bump this up to all the stars!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this by reading Siobhan Carroll‘s Tor short story ‘For He Can Creep’ which is the last line of Smart’s poem ‘For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffry’. The story was enjoyable and made me seek out Smart's poem, also a satisfying read.

[Angela Maher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little book. Lovely illustrations. A poem dedicated to a much loved cat, but with obvious religious overtones.

[Simran Sakshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In isolation, he was overthinking about a Cat. At least better than overthinking about people.

[Catalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't find the larger short story so this one will have to do. Cats fighting demons. Cats. What more do you want ❤

[Jennifer Kubenka · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excerpt from a longer work, poetry, lovely.

The illustrations are what make this edition so spectacular