"Cat"

[jinian]

The fat cat on the mat
  may seem to dream
of nice mice that suffice
  for him, or cream;
but he free, maybe,
  walks in thought
unbowed, proud, where loud
  roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim,
  or deep in den
in the East feasted on beasts
  and tender men.
The giant lion with iron
  claw in paw,
and huge ruthless tooth
  in gory jaw;
the pard dark-starred,
  fleet upon feet,
that oft soft from aloft
  leaps upon his meat
where woods loom in gloom --
  far now they be,
  fierce and free,
  and tamed is he;
but fat cat on the mat
  kept as a pet
  he does not forget.

      -- J. R. R. Tolkien

Comments

[lithera.livejournal.com]

That rules. I think I'm going to put that in my quote book.

Whhheeeeee!

[torquemada.livejournal.com]

Once again you remind me why I adore you.

[elisem.livejournal.com]

I am glad there is a you, especially a you who posts things like this.s

[firecat]

Yow! Tolkien? Where did that come from?

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Somebody in rec.arts.sf.written pointed it out. I've only seen it on the web, so I suppose the Tolkien attribution may not be so reliable. I love the vowel sounds regardless.

[firecat]

Oh yeah. I wish I could get James Earl Jones to read it to me. Or maybe Alan Rickman, or...