Friday 12 February 2010

One cat leads to another



Both these cards are of the same series published by J W B London, E Series No 302, and I suspect too, that they are of the same cat.  The first is postally unused but fairly battered, the second dates from 1913.  I wonder if there is a complete series of this cat.

The Naming Of Cats by T. S. Eliot


The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey--
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter--
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum-
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover--
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

Visit Marie Reed's The French Factrice to find more people this Postcard Friday.

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15 comments:

  1. Wonderful! Kitties *out of the bag/basket*!!! Happy PFF!

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  2. And thus we had "Cats" on Broadway, Sheila! Love your kitty cats postcards! Happy Valentine's Day to you! :)

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  3. Great post, and T.S. Elliot to boot. happy PFF.

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  4. Makes me want to get out my T.S. Eliot and read him by the fire this weekend. Thanks for the wonderful poetry gift this fine Valentines' weekend!

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  5. Fabulous! Both the cards and the T.S. Eliot.

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  6. Great poem and lovely cards. Happy PFF!

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  7. Cute cards and the poem is purrr..fect!

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  8. Love your postcard art specially the cuties kitty.

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  9. "His Highness" is a good name for that cat.

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  10. T.S Eliot's comic poem just reminded me of Pam Ayers. Remember her funny poem "I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth". Where could I get a copy of her Morris Minor poem?

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  11. I love the cats. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.

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  12. Great posts cards to continue with Maries theme...
    PPF Thanks for stopping by!

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  13. Yea, more cats! I love the poem!

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  14. Thank you all for your comments. Blogaire, Pam Ayres poem will be on its way to you any time now.

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  15. Cats is such a great musical! Thanks for the T.S. Eliot poem... Happy late PFF!

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