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 "Me-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 it hands before
its face,
For it always dreaded a family
row!
(Now 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 folks think unto this
day
That burglars stole the 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.)
Back to Poems
