[Carbucketty]

To Mr. T.S. Eliot,
on reading "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats".

When the Eliots lived on Locust Street
Tom was pale and thin and shy,
And he hid from Margie's and Charlotte's friends
Whenever they passed by.

Now, T.S. Eliot is a mighty man,
A beacon light in Britain,
And whether he write of Bishops of cats,
It's the climax that can be written.

He has fetched himself a long way up,
(And St. Louis is glad to know it)
From Mr. Hal Eliot's little boy
to England's foremost poet.

But he's had a sad a sad a sorry lot
In one respect, I see,
And because of the old time bonds, I speak
This word of sympathy.

His friends may be the pick of the lot,
Prelate's and peers and sages,
And lovely ladies and earnest me
And wits who will live through the ages,

But where, -- Oh, where? -- in this big round world
That is full of adorable pets,
Does he ever have the back luck to find
Such hateful pestiferous cats?

Bertha Skinner (A childhood neighbour of Eliot's)

----

Dear Madam,
Thank you for your letter. I am grieved to find
That in respect of felines you are so confused in mind.

You would be qualified to criticise me if you had
Perceived the truth that one Cat is wholly good or bad.

At least, of all the Cats between Mousehole and John o'Groats,
You can't say, some of them are sheep and other Cats are goats.

For even the nicest tabby that was ever born and weaned
Is capable of acting, on occasion, like a fiend.

And even my toughest characters, who gloat in doing harm,
Are not entirely destitute (admit it, please) of Charm.

And all my Cats with one accord disclaim the title "pets,"
Which is only suitable to parrots, Pekes and marmosets.

I trust that on consideration you may come to see
The strength of my contention.
Yours truly, T.S.E.


Very, very interesting...

[Moongewl]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[ultra_lilac]

Wonderful!
'Hateful pestiferous cat' is my cat's new nickname.

[Drumdraper]

Where did you find those Carb?

By chance do you have a full copy of the poem ALW was singing in the Making of Cats DVD. He was playing the piano and it went something like this:

"There I was sitting at the Princess Louise
When a man came up to me and talked about Jellicle Cats and Pollicle Dogs"

They only play that short piece though.