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The Well-Versed Cat: Poems of Celebration
Poems are small packages, but they say a lot. Their every line is expressive.
They are by turn beautiful, playful and reserved. In many ways they're just like cats.
And this volume is full of cat-related poetry from some master writers.
They are by turn beautiful, playful and reserved. In many ways they're just like cats.
And this volume is full of cat-related poetry from some master writers.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 5, 2019
Charming mini book of poems by long deceased poets.
September 4, 2021
found in a DIFFERENT little free library while on the same walk. felt a bit too serendipitous to pass by but turned out to be a lovely collection of paintings and poetry
March 10, 2025
Cute little book, the size of a box of matches. Some of the poems within were great and heart-warming, other left me without any lasting impact.
December 28, 2024
Quite a lot of the verse in this book is material not seen as often as some of the mainstream feline poetry is included in such anthologies. Indeed there are a number of Victorian poets quoted whose names are not on everybody's lips most of the time.
Perhaps my favourite poem in the collection is that by Eleanor Farjeon, 1881-1965, and is simply entitled 'Cats' and is a poem with only one, two or three words per line. And it starts and ends with the same three words, which are certainly very true, 'Cats sleep anywhere'! Sandwiched in between in the other 16 lines are the places where cats choose to sleep, 'any table', 'any chair', 'Top of piano', Window ledge', 'Open drawer', 'Empty shoe', 'Fitted in a cardboard box' - definitely a favourite of any one of my daughter's three cats - Marjorie [Allingham], Stan [Matthews] and Ranji [Ranjitsinhji' - 'In the cupboard with your frocks' and as the author states 'They just don't care!'.
I was pleased to see an extract from Edward Lear's 'The Owl and the Pussy Cat' present as it was familiar and I did enjoy Sarah Chauncy Woolsey's (Susan Coolidge)lengthy extract from 'Hodge the Cat', who sits alongside his owner, 'Burly and big,/His books among,/Good Samuel Johnson sat'. That was before 'The Dictionary was laid down,/The Doctor tied his vast cravat,/And down the buzzing street he strode'. Obviously Hodge needed food so off when the doctor to buy 'six oysters' for 'Hodge knows when he has had enough'. 'The dear old Doctor, fierce of mien' just had to look after the requirements of Hodge!
Among others, also springing to life in this collection are Oscar Wilde's Sphinx, WB Yeats' Minnaloushe, who must have had some relationship with the moon [don't we all?!], and Don Marquis' Mehitabel in whom God and Marquis must have rejoiced in having her as a bundle of joy.
Overall it is rather like the curate's egg ... good in parts.
Perhaps my favourite poem in the collection is that by Eleanor Farjeon, 1881-1965, and is simply entitled 'Cats' and is a poem with only one, two or three words per line. And it starts and ends with the same three words, which are certainly very true, 'Cats sleep anywhere'! Sandwiched in between in the other 16 lines are the places where cats choose to sleep, 'any table', 'any chair', 'Top of piano', Window ledge', 'Open drawer', 'Empty shoe', 'Fitted in a cardboard box' - definitely a favourite of any one of my daughter's three cats - Marjorie [Allingham], Stan [Matthews] and Ranji [Ranjitsinhji' - 'In the cupboard with your frocks' and as the author states 'They just don't care!'.
I was pleased to see an extract from Edward Lear's 'The Owl and the Pussy Cat' present as it was familiar and I did enjoy Sarah Chauncy Woolsey's (Susan Coolidge)lengthy extract from 'Hodge the Cat', who sits alongside his owner, 'Burly and big,/His books among,/Good Samuel Johnson sat'. That was before 'The Dictionary was laid down,/The Doctor tied his vast cravat,/And down the buzzing street he strode'. Obviously Hodge needed food so off when the doctor to buy 'six oysters' for 'Hodge knows when he has had enough'. 'The dear old Doctor, fierce of mien' just had to look after the requirements of Hodge!
Among others, also springing to life in this collection are Oscar Wilde's Sphinx, WB Yeats' Minnaloushe, who must have had some relationship with the moon [don't we all?!], and Don Marquis' Mehitabel in whom God and Marquis must have rejoiced in having her as a bundle of joy.
Overall it is rather like the curate's egg ... good in parts.
March 20, 2022
Whoever has/had a cat will surely enjoy this collection of poems by famous authors (among others Oscar Wilde and J.R.R. Tolkien) regarding these furry little devils. It put a smile on my face to think that these writers felt such a love for cats that it moved and inspired them so.
Some where a bit difficult to read because of the old language, as many poems were written in the 19th and early 20th century.
Some where a bit difficult to read because of the old language, as many poems were written in the 19th and early 20th century.
December 20, 2017
The book delivers what it promises, poems about cats. Many of the poems are from the 1700-1800s and use speech of those times. If you’re looking for a book with little known cat poems, this is your ticket!
November 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews