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!”
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.
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.
By Edward Lear
Sweet! This is one of my favorite poems actually. Many years ago, I gave it to my high school students (in China) to learn for pronunciation practice :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did they appreciate it? :)
LikeLike
One I have always loved too. It was one of the poems which switched me on to poetry in childhood. It has imagery, musicality, wit and charm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember early childhood being full of rhymes– ‘Over the hills and Far away’ captured my imagination along with the’ Owl an the Pussycat’
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was awesome!
LikeLike