That he may not be interrupted upon the beat

[kalypso_v]

Apparently it's World Poetry Day. This came to my mind, because I have been thinking about eighteenth-century asylums and attitudes to the mentally ill; my old friend Harry Smith used to cite the case of Kit Smart, whose cat lived with him during the time he spent in the mad-house, as evidence that there was sometimes a more civilised approach

Comments

[eglantine_br]

This has been one of my favorite poems, for years. It is so clearly and lovingly observed.

It lived on my refrig for ages. My kids know it Husband quotes it.

We have two cats at my house. Since my kids were little they have said, "look, he's rolling upon prank, to work it in." Or, "she can catch a cork, and throw it again."

Poor Kit Smart. I hope Jeoffry brought him comfort.

[kalypso_v]

What is prank?

I am sure that Jeoffry was a very great comforter. For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.

[jhall1]

I like that. Thanks for posting it.

[kalypso_v]

It's full of genius. "For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command."

[vjezkova]

Thank you for this great poem, I love it!!!
Of course without you, I would never get to know it!

[kalypso_v]

It's one of the great cat poems!

And it's clear that Tygr was Jeoffry's cousin: "For he is of the tribe of Tiger."

[sweetheartwhale]

Yep. Favourite poem. Though I'd forgotten the bit about "electrical fire" and "light and wax". At the risk of being committed to the same place as the poet, and rarely admitting this in a public forum, I have, since birth, been able to see the electrical energy around and in living creatures which the Eastern philosophers call "chi". It looks like the fuzzy static on the TV screen when you're not tuned to a channel, sometimes flashes like fire or massive electrical discharge or runs around like lightning. Cats,especially,either have a lot of it,or are particularly on my frequency, and freely move it around themselves,especially if unwell. (Sorry TS Eliot, BTW, that's probably what they are doing in their "rapt contemplation" moments, not remembering their names) I wonder if Mr Smart saw it also?.

Cherub cat is also *the* best phrase ever...my three plump cherubs and one skinny one are looking at me as I type.....

[kalypso_v]

Interesting! I know some people are supposed to see coloured auras - is that the same sort of thing?

[sweetheartwhale]

Not really, they're more a sort of soft-lighting glow, I think. The cat thing is more like fizzing - that electric sky sort of thing. We had a talk by a chi master at Red 09, and it was like lightning when he moved it around. So apparently that's how people trained in that see it.