The Cat of St. Ives (Part IV)

Our growing moan a lofty growl,
that would become a clashing howl
enforcing them to soon renounce,
as they came forth and we did pounce,
their hold on Truro ere the end
of night when we their flesh did rend
with fang and claw and shaken head
and many bodies fell down dead,
of ours and theirs, but we were true
and in the scores the rats we slew
until the dawn above the sea
showed to us the rats aflee.
But as we sat to count the cost
we realised the town was lost.
I tried to tend my sund'red flanks
and too extend the many thanks
obliged onto the feline hoard
who stood beside me on the board
of Truro's dock throughout the night
when finally we'd brought the fight.
Too late the rat was put to flight.
Despite my effort all the blood
still left me just like murine flood
without the bounds of Truro's lanes.
I felt the growing battle pains
and settled down to rest a mite,
then realised the fading light
as all my strength it passed away
as fateful night turned fatal day.

The Cat of St. Ives (Part III)

The Cat of St. Ives (Part III)

Goodly men laid in the ground

in numbers that would all astound.

Others fled, to better fare

away from Truro's streets now where

the cursed French their chance did take,

to raid in Kernow in the wake

of death, they came for all to take

using then the total break.

We, the toast of land a time,

were hated now, for no more crime

than being not so numerous

as to put down the murine curse.

Most the feline hoard had fled,

in face of that unwholesome dread,

but I could not give up so well

and, though it may be me in hell

I sought the docks one final time,

to see what conquest could be mine

before the noxious, blackened beast

could curse the world, cause all to cease.

My heart it battled in my chest,

my feet rebelling my behest,

and every creak and scrap and din,

caused my valour to within

me wither like a child of fear

aquailing at the coming near

of all the visitations dark

that fill our nightmares to the mark.

And all around me then there stirred

a gentle patter barely heard,

of softened feet alighting down

from lofty heights and through the town

my brethren, sistren came along

and putting up one valiant song

defiant in the face of fright

and on into the dark'ning night

determined to put all to flight

who dared demean our feline might.

The Cat of St. Ives (Part II)

The Cat of St. Ives (Part II)

I never was a cat of home,

and born the streets I was to roam

from Tom unknown, and mother cold

I learned from young my course to hold.

It wasn't always pain and pine,

though verily in winter time,

and oft I would a sated sleep

take neath the night and dream to keep

of when my life would always be

of comfort, warmth and joyous glee.

But moon on moon the hardships came,

and when the rats from sunny Spain

the black death carried we became

the heroes of the town again.

Dark of coat and black of eye,

quick of mind a lythely by

the guard and dockhand they would slip

on into town to nibble, nip,

and chew through cast off food and grime;

the humans' waste their baleful crime,

attracting such a numerous crowd

who carried with them darkened clowd.

The simple flea, a stowaway

that lived among us every day,

hosted by the humble rat,

the loyal dog, and sovreign cat,

brought to the land a baleful gloom,

a loathsome curse, a ghastly doom.

And as the first afflicted foundered

blame was cast and fear resounded.

I myself to Truro bounded.

The Cat of St. Ives (Part 1)

I'm publishing the beginning extract of a poem I started a long time ago, while I was living in Luton. The first line came to me while I was half-listening to the radio. They were talking about "puzzles" that a really only tricks, and the famous "As I was going to St. Ives..." problem came up.

Suddenly, the first line of my poem popped into my head, and I had to write it. Here it is, presented unedited. Maybe this will be my encouragement to finally finish it.

The Cat of St. Ives (Part I)

As I was running from to St. Ives,
I met a cat with seven lives 
Who bid of me the time of day 
and offered company a way. 
I thought it kind and did agree 
For her to walk a while with me 
And as we passed the time away 
She told me of her life's affray 
In dark of night and silent day 
From mankind's trials to cast away. 
We made our way past Hellesveor 
and on the day toward Zennor 
where, in The Tinners, toward the eve 
I called my friend for a reprieve 
and though the landlord doubted me 
my coin was good enough for he 
to let my familiar and I
to spend the night the fire by.
Twas then I saw the furred mark
more visible in gloom and dark
that told me my companion
had lost a life, if only one,
and thrust I to request the lay 
if not too much, of fateful day.

Please, enjoy. I welcome criticism, but I mean criticism. If you don't have anything to say that would help make this better, probably best not to say anything.