The Poetry Corner

The Cat.

By Oliver Herford

OB-SERVE the Cat up-on this page. Phil-os-o-phers in ev-er-y age, The ver-y wis-est of the wise, Have tried her mind to an-a-lyze In vain, for noth-ing can they learn. She baf-fles them at ev-er-y turn Like Mis-ter Ham-let in the play. She leads their rea-son-ing a-stray; She feigns an in-ter-est in string Or yarn or any roll-ing thing. Un-like the Dog, she does not care With com-mon Man her thoughts to share. She teach-es us that in life's walk 'T is bet-ter to let oth-ers talk, And lis-ten while they say in-stead The fool-ish things we might have said.