A chant for a children’s pantomime dance, suggested by a picture painted by George Mather Richards.

I saw a proud, mysterious cat,
I saw a proud, mysterious cat
Too proud to catch a mouse or rat-
Mew, mew, mew.

But catnip she would eat, and purr,
But catnip she would eat, and purr.
And goldfish she did much prefer-
Mew, mew, mew.

I saw a cat-’twas but a dream,
I saw a cat-’twas but a dream
Who scorned the slave that brought her cream-
Mew, mew, mew.

Unless the slave were dressed in style,
Unless the slave were dressed in style
And knelt before her all the while-
Mew, mew, mew.

Did you ever hear of a thing like that?
Did you ever hear of a thing like that?
Did you ever hear of a thing like that?
Oh, what a proud mysterious cat.
Oh, what a proud mysterious cat.
Oh, what a proud mysterious cat.
Mew . . . mew . . . mew.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Vachel Lindsay's poem The Mysterious Cat

2 Comments

  1. Noly LLaneza Duquen says:

    This is my favorite jazz chant since I was a reading teacher in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and in the
    Philippines. Students love to perform with proper costumes.

  2. jun says:

    This is the poem that has to be memorize by my 4 yr old son on their upcoming elocution contest. Nice piece though.

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