See the Kitten on the wall, Sporting with leaves that fall, Withered leaves -- one-two-and three -- From the lofty elder-tree! Through the calm and frosty air Of this morning bright and fair, Eddying round and round they sink Softly, slowly: one might think, From the motions that are made, Every little leaf conveyed Sylph or Faery hither tending, To this lower world descending, Each invisible and mute In his wavering parachute. But the Kitten, how she starts, Crouches, stretches, paws, and darts! First at one, and then its fellow Just as light and just as yellow. There are many now -- now one -- Now they stop and there are none: What intenseness of desire In her upward eye of fire! With a tiger-leap half-way Now she meets the coming prey, Lets it go as fast, and then Has it in her power again: Now she works with three or four, Like an Indian conjurer; Quick as he in feats of art, Far beyond in joy of heart. Were her antics played in the eye Of a thousand standers-by, Clapping hands with shout and stare, What would little Tabby care For the plaudits of the crowd? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE EVENING STAR by WILLIAM BLAKE HARVEST SONG by LUDWIG HENRICH CHRISTOPH HOLTY SPRING by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE SLAVE'S DREAM by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THREE FRIENDS OF MINE: 5; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW S. JOHN: THE DISCIPLE, WHOM JESUS LOVED by JOSEPH BEAUMONT ON THE RANGE by BARCROFT HENRY BOAKE |