Midnighte's Poetry and Short Stories
Young Edgar Meets the Cat in the Hat
Once upon a Sunday dreary, as I pondered weak and weary
Over many a cartoon or volume of some comic lore
While I nodded nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping
As of someone rudely rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;
Only this and nothing more."
Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember, wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished for Monday; though Saturday I'd wished for Sunday.
From my books surcease of sorrow, -sorrow for the constant bore.
For the rare and radiant sunshine and the boredom it could cure.
Gone from here forever more.
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me, -filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before.
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door,-
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;
That it is, and nothing more."
Presently, my soul grew stronger, hesitating, then no longer.
"Solicitor," said I, "or madman, won't you please just go away?
The fact is that I was napping when so rudely you came rapping,
And too loudly you came tapping, won't you please just go away?"
And my visitor, he shouted, "Let me in I want to play!
No better day to play than Sunday!"
Opening the door and peering, long I stood there, wondering fearing,
Doubting, dreaming that a Cat in Hat stood at my chamber door.
But the silence soon was broken as the Cat gave me a token.
And his only words there spoken, "My! Oh! My! This is a bore!"
This I whispered and and he echoed, "My! Oh! My! This is a bore!"
Merely this and nothing more.
Shut the door, to chamber turning, all my boredom in me burning.
So I thought for just one moment and opened again the chamber door.
"Surprise! Surprise!" said the five foot cat, bowing taking off his hat.
"Let me see what fun awaits us! And this mystery explore!
Let your frown be happy, sunny. Let it sit outside your door!"
I was leary now for sure.
Mouth agape I stood there staring at this Cat in Hat so daring.
Silent stood this stately creature in a red stripe hat too tall.
Suddenly, great nuisance made he; stomping, romping loudly played he.
But I gave in to "happy, sunny," biding to his cheery call.
Perched upon a tiny toenail, balanced on a rubber ball.-
He whirled and danced and did not fall.
Then his striped hat beguiling my sad fancy into smiling.
By the cheerful striped decorum of the countenance he wore.
On each hand, twelve dishes held he; atop that stack, eight cups of tea.
Rolling, whirling, smiling Hat Cat popped the ball and hit the floor.
"We must find a few games more."
Much I marveled this amusing cat to hear me laugh so plainly,
Though his musing little meaning, little relevency bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing a dancing cat fall on his floor.
Cat or beast dancing on a ball then falling to his chamber floor,
Quoth the Hat Cat, "A few games more!"
But the Hat Cat sitting lonely on the floor spoke only
That one phrase, as if his soul in that one phrase he did outpour.
"Something further," he then uttered, "Another game!" I think he muttered
I thought of it and then I shuddered, "Other toys have broken before."
I looked at him and wondered as he ran in and ut my chamber door.
Quoth the Hat Cat, "A few games more!"
Startled at the stillness, broken by reply so lively spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "What you have spoken means there are more games to play?"
Doubtless it could mean disaster, as two things came tumbling after.
Rolling fast, and fast and faster, till his song became quite gay,
"I have brought some visitors! Things One and Two have come today."
Little then had I to say.
But the Hat Cat still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled three cushioned seats in front of Thing, and Thing and Cat.
They upon the velvet, sinking, Cat betook himself to thinking.
Fancy unto fancy, set thinking what great games were inside his hat.
"I have one you'd love to play, if I can just think where it's at!"
He commenced to search his hat.
