“The Owl & The Pussy-Cat” by Edward Lear

Best Pet Daily - Poem - The Owl & The Pussy Cat (Edward Lear)

Foreword

"The Owl and the Pussy-Cat" by Edward Lear is a delightful nonsense poem first published in 1871.

It tells the story of an unlikely pair—a love-struck owl and a beautiful cat who decide to get married.

Their journey takes them far away to a beautiful pea-green boat, where they sail to a land where the Bong-tree grows. Along their voyage, they encounter a piggy-wig who sells them a ring for their wedding, and they are married by a turkey.

The poem (sometimes sung… so we refer to each “stanza” as a “verse”, below) is celebrated for its whimsical imagery, playful language, and the charming adventure of its central characters.

The Owl & The Pussy-Cat

Verse I

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 stars above,

   And sang to a small guitar,

"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,

    What a beautiful Pussy you are,

         You are,

         You are!

What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Verse II

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl!

   How charmingly sweet you sing!

O 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 at the end of his nose,

             His nose,

             His nose,

   With a ring at the end of his nose.

Verse III

"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 on 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,

             The moon,

They danced by the light of the moon.