Cat

from The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and other verses from The Red Book
by J. R. R. Tolkien

The fat cat on the mat

may seem to dream
of nice mice that suffice
for him, or cream;

but he free, maybe,
walks in thought
unbowed, proud, where loud
roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim,
or deep in den
in the East feasted on beasts
or tender men.

The giant lion with iron
claw in paw,


and huge, ruthless tooth
in gory jaw;


the pard, dark-starred,
fleet upon feet,
that oft soft from aloft
leaps upon his meat
where woods loom in gloom--
far now they be,
fierce and free,
and tamed is he;
but fat cat on the mat,
kept as a pet,
he does not forget.


~pictures by Steve and The Kince~