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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


FIND THE FAVORITE by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: OUR THREE CATS IS MALTESE CATS
Last Line: IN WHERE KATY'S AT!
Subject(s): ANIMALS; CATS; DEAFNESS;

OUR three cats is Maltese cats,
An' they's two that's white, --
An' bofe of 'em's @3deef@1 -- an' that's
'Cause their @3eyes@1 ain't right. --

Uncle say that @3Huxley@1 say
Eyes of @3white@1 Maltese --
When they don't match thataway --
They're deef as you please!

@3Girls, they@1 like our white cats best,
'Cause they're white as snow,
Yes, an' look the stylishest --
But they're deef, you know!

They don't know their names, an' don't
Hear us when we call
"Come in, Nick an' Finn!" -- they won't
Come fer us at all!

But our @3other@1 cat, @3he@1 knows
Mister Nick an' Finn, --
Mowg's @3his@1 name, -- an' when @3he@1 goes
Fer 'em, they come in!

Mowgli's @3all@1 his name -- the same
Me an' Muvver took
Like the Wolf-Child's @3other@1 name,
In "The Jungul Book."

I bet Mowg's the smartest cat
In the world! -- @3He's@1 not
@3White,@1 but mousy-plush, with that
Smoky gloss he's got!

All's got little bells to ring,
Round their neck; but none
Only Mowg @3knows@1 anything --
He's the only one!

I ist 'spect sometimes he hate
White cats' stupid ways: --
He won't hardly 'sociate
With 'em, lots o' days!

Mowg wants in where @3we@1 air, -- well,
He'll ist take his paw
An' ist ring an' ring his bell
There till me er Ma

Er @3some@1body lets him in
Nen an' shuts the door. --
An', when he wants out ag'in,
Nen he'll ring some more.

Ort to hear our Katy tell!
She sleeps 'way up-stairs;
An' last night she hear Mowg's bell
Ringin' round @3some@1wheres. . . .

Trees grows by her winder. -- So,
She lean out an' see
Mowg up there, 'way out, you know,
In the clingstone-tree; --

An'-sir! he ist @3hint@1 an' @3ring,@1 --
Till she ketch an' plat
Them limbs; -- nen he crawl an' spring
In where Katy's at!



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