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43
THE SOUL OF A CAT
When nights are warm, and roofs are dry,
And gaily sails the sickle moon,
And noiseless bats rush flickering by,
And drowsy streamlets softly croon;
And gaily sails the sickle moon,
And noiseless bats rush flickering by,
And drowsy streamlets softly croon;
My furry cat, who listless lies
Between the shadow and the light,
Sits up, and rubs his drowsy eyes,
And thinks how loud he'll sing to-night!
Between the shadow and the light,
Sits up, and rubs his drowsy eyes,
And thinks how loud he'll sing to-night!
When lamps are lit within the house,
And punctual crickets chide and call,
When now the hungry jumping mouse
Begins to scramble in the wall;
And punctual crickets chide and call,
When now the hungry jumping mouse
Begins to scramble in the wall;
44
My cat looks round and rises slow,
Stern purpose in his solemn eye;
Leaps from the window; saunters slow
Around the dark-leav'd barberry.
Stern purpose in his solemn eye;
Leaps from the window; saunters slow
Around the dark-leav'd barberry.
In vain his warm and firelit room
Awaits to tempt him if he pass;
He fades upon the shadowy gloom,
He melts into the dusky grass;
Awaits to tempt him if he pass;
He fades upon the shadowy gloom,
He melts into the dusky grass;
And soon across the twilight dim,
A sound of music comes and goes;
He chants an amorous rising hymn,
Or screams defiance at his foes.
A sound of music comes and goes;
He chants an amorous rising hymn,
Or screams defiance at his foes.
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