A poem for the day

Please join us for tea as we ponder some poetry.

Ahmmmm...

The Duel

By Eugene Field

The gingham dog and the calico cat

Side by side on the table sat;

"Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)

Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink!

     The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate

     Appeared to know as sure as fate

There was going to be a terrible spat.

(I wasn't there; I simply state 

What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!"

And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"

The air was littered, an hour or so,

With bits of gingham and calico,

     While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place

     Up with its hands before its face,

For it always dreaded a family row!

(Never mind:  I'm only telling you

What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,

And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"

But the gingham dog and the calico cat

Wallowed this way and tumbled that,

     Employing every tooth and claw

     In the awfullest way you ever saw --

And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!

(Don't fancy I exaggerate --

I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning where the two had sat

They found no trace of dog or cat;

And some folk think unto this day

That burglars stole that pair away!

     But the truth about the cat and pup

     Is this: they ate each other up!

Now what do you really think of that!

(The old Dutch clock it told me so,

And that is how I came to know.)

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!