The Retired Cat Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEFEFGGEEHIJJKK LLMMNNOOPPGGQQ NNRRSSGGTTEENUNUVV WXMMYYZZSSA2A2 B2C2D2D2E2E2F2F2G2G2 E2E2 EEE2E2E2E2E2E2GGH2H2 I2I2F2F2J2J2E2E2E2E2 E2E2TTK2K2E2E2E2E2 K2 L2M2E2E2TN2TT

A poet's cat sedate and graveA
As poet well could wish to haveB
Was much addicted to inquireC
For nooks to which she might retireC
And where secure as mouse in chinkD
She might repose or sit and thinkD
I know not where she caught the trickE
Nature perhaps herself had cast herF
In such a mould philosophiqueE
Or else she learn'd it of her masterF
Sometimes ascending debonairG
An apple tree or lofty pearG
Lodg'd with convenience in the forkE
She watch'd the gardener at his workE
Sometimes her ease and solace soughtH
In an old empty wat'ring potI
There wanting nothing save a fanJ
To seem some nymph in her sedanJ
Apparell'd in exactest sortK
And ready to be borne to courtK
-
But love of change it seems has placeL
Not only in our wiser raceL
Cats also feel as well as weM
That passion's force and so did sheM
Her climbing she began to findN
Expos'd her too much to the windN
And the old utensil of tinO
Was cold and comfortless withinO
She therefore wish'd instead of thoseP
Some place of more serene reposeP
Where neither cold might come nor airG
Too rudely wanton with her hairG
And sought it in the likeliest modeQ
Within her master's snug abodeQ
-
A drawer it chanc'd at bottom lin'dN
With linen of the softest kindN
With such as merchants introduceR
From India for the ladies' useR
A drawer impending o'er the restS
Half open in the topmost chestS
Of depth enough and none to spareG
Invited her to slumber thereG
Puss with delight beyond expressionT
Survey'd the scene and took possessionT
Recumbent at her ease ere longE
And lull'd by her own humdrum songE
She left the cares of life behindN
And slept as she would sleep her lastU
When in came housewifely inclin'dN
The chambermaid and shut it fastU
By no malignity impell'dV
But all unconscious whom it heldV
-
Awaken'd by the shock cried PussW
Was ever cat attended thusX
The open drawer was left I seeM
Merely to prove a nest for meM
For soon as I was well compos'dY
Then came the maid and it was clos'dY
How smooth these kerchiefs and how sweetZ
Oh what a delicate retreatZ
I will resign myself to restS
Till Sol declining in the westS
Shall call to supper when no doubtA2
Susan will come and let me outA2
-
The evening came the sun descendedB2
And puss remain'd still unattendedC2
The night roll'd tardily awayD2
With her indeed 'twas never dayD2
The sprightly morn her course renew'dE2
The evening gray again ensuedE2
And puss came into mind no moreF2
han if entomb'd the day beforeF2
With hunger pinch'd and pinch'd for roomG2
She now presag'd approaching doomG2
Nor slept a single wink or purr'dE2
Conscious of jeopardy incurr'dE2
-
That night by chance the poet watchingE
Heard an inexplicable scratchingE
His noble heart went pit a patE2
And to himself he said What's thatE2
He drew the curtain at his sideE2
And forth he peep'd but nothing spiedE2
Yet by his ear directed guess'dE2
Something imprison'd in the chestE2
And doubtful what with prudent careG
Resolv'd it should continue thereG
At length a voice which well he knewH2
A long and melancholy mewH2
Saluting his poetic earsI2
Consol'd him and dispell'd his fearsI2
He left his bed he trod the floorF2
He 'gan in haste the drawers exploreF2
The lowest first and without stopJ2
The rest in order to the topJ2
For 'tis a truth well known to mostE2
That whatsoever thing is lostE2
We seek it ere it come to lightE2
In ev'ry cranny but the rightE2
Forth skipp'd the cat not now repleteE2
As erst with airy self conceitE2
Nor in her own fond apprehensionT
A theme for all the world's attentionT
But modest sober cured of allK2
Her notions hyperbolicalK2
And wishing for a place of restE2
Anything rather than a chestE2
Then stepp'd the poet into bedE2
With this reflection in his headE2
-
MORALK2
-
Beware of too sublime a senseL2
Of your own worth and consequenceM2
The man who dreams himself so greatE2
And his importance of such weightE2
That all around in all that's doneT
Must move and act for him aloneN2
Will learn in school of tribulationT
The folly of his expectationT

William Cowper



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