Just One Tonight

One more from my book at Dailylit.com . I get three posts per week  and I’m just loving it. The rhythym of this one captivated me.

 THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT.

“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat,” by Edward Lear (1812-88), is placed here
because I once found that a timid child was much strengthened and
developed by learning it. It is a song that appeals to the imagination
of children, and they like to sing it.

    The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
        In a beautiful pea-green boat;
    They took some honey, and plenty of money
        Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
    The Owl looked up to the moon above,
        And sang to a small guitar,
   “O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love!
        What a beautiful Pussy you are,–
                   You are,
        What a beautiful Pussy you are!”

    Pussy said to the Owl, “You elegant fowl!
        How wonderful sweet you sing!
    Oh, let us be married,–too long we have tarried,–
        But what shall we do for a ring?”
    They sailed away for a year and a day
        To the land where the Bong-tree grows,
    And there in a wood a piggy-wig stood
        With a ring in the end of his nose,–
                    His nose,
        With a ring in the end of his nose.

   “Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
        Your ring?” Said the piggy, “I will,”
    So they took it away, and were married next day
        By the turkey who lives on the hill.
    They dined upon mince and slices of quince,
        Which they ate with a runcible spoon,
    And hand in hand on the edge of the sand
        They danced by the light of the moon,–
                   The moon,
        They danced by the light of the moon.

                                EDWARD LEAR.

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