The
Rubáiyát
of a
Persian Kitten

By

Oliver Herford

New York · Charles Scribner’s Sons
Mcmvi

Copyright, 1904, by
Oliver Herford

The De Vinne Press.

The Rubáiyát of a
Persian Kitten

Wake! for the Golden Cat has put to flight The Mouse of Darkness with his Paw of Light: Which means, in Plain and simple every-day Unoriental Speech—The Dawn is bright.

They say the Early Bird the Worm shall taste. Then rise, O Kitten! Wherefore, sleeping, waste The Fruits of Virtue? Quick! the Early Bird Will soon be on the Flutter—O make haste!

The Early Bird has gone, and with him ta’en The Early Worm—Alas! the Moral’s plain, O Senseless Worm! Thus, thus we are repaid For Early Rising—I shall doze again.

The Mouse makes merry ’mid the Larder Shelves, The Bird for Dinner in the Garden delves. I often wonder what the creatures eat One half so toothsome as they are Themselves.

And that Inverted Bowl of Skyblue Delf That helpless lies upon the Pantry Shelf— Lift not your eyes to It for help, for It Is quite as empty as you are yourself.

The Ball no question makes of Ayes or Noes, But right or left, as strikes the Kitten, goes; Yet why, altho’ I toss it Far Afield, It still returneth—Goodness only knows!