The Bluebird and the Cat

Written by: Stephen Van Wyck

Illustrations by: Wilsa Pratiwi, Jakarta, Indonesia

Beats / Syllables: 12 per line (6+6), Rhyme Scheme: ABAB-CDCD-EFEF, Written 7/16/2006 to 7/21/2006

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I once knew a bluebird her voice was very shrill

I once knew a bluebird her voice was very shrill

She sang from the rooftops, she warbled to the land.

She sang from the rooftops, she warbled to the land.

Once a day at noontime, and always from the hill. She made us stop our course, and listen ear-to-hand.

Once a day at noontime, and always from the hill. She made us stop our course, and listen ear-to-hand.

At night-time as we slept, she played the nightingale, The rural troubadour, the chronicler of earth!

At night-time as we slept, she played the nightingale, The rural troubadour, the chronicler of earth!

There never was a fox, who would visit our vale, Without being announced, to every rabbit's mirth.

There never was a fox, who would visit our vale, Without being announced, to every rabbit's mirth.

Thus it is in this wood, I Nutkin do declare; Life is very mundane, but this is nothing wrong.

Thus it is in this wood, I Nutkin do declare; Life is very mundane, but this is nothing wrong.

The bluebirds voice is shrill, but regular and fair. What can do but cease, and listen to her song?

The bluebirds voice is shrill, but regular and fair. What can do but cease, and listen to her song?

In time I left the vale, my fortune for to seek.

In time I left the vale, my fortune for to seek.

Being Squirrel famous, I went to far Cathay

Being Squirrel famous, I went to far Cathay

They said that over there, you didn’t have to peek into every knot-hole, for acorns every day!

They said that over there, you didn’t have to peek into every knot-hole, for acorns every day!

The acorns lay in heaps, beneath leafy branches;

The acorns lay in heaps, beneath leafy branches;

I ate my fill by noon, storing half by dinner

I ate my fill by noon, storing half by dinner

Yet fearing loss of hoard, here you take such chances, Suspicious turned I soon, keeping place of winner

Yet fearing loss of hoard, here you take such chances, Suspicious turned I soon, keeping place of winner

Only every midnight, upon a passing breeze,

Only every midnight, upon a passing breeze,

Commerce being silent, and strife transformed to rest,

Commerce being silent, and strife transformed to rest,

I heard the bluebird’s voice; each time it made me freeze:

I heard the bluebird’s voice; each time it made me freeze:

Soft and melodious, fresh news straight from the west!

Soft and melodious, fresh news straight from the west!

Searching golden acorns, I wandered through the land.

Searching golden acorns, I wandered through the land.

Rivers and bare plateaus, high mountains I traversed.

Rivers and bare plateaus, high mountains I traversed.

Squirrels saw I rarely; I slept on silk and sand.

Squirrels saw I rarely; I slept on silk and sand.

Aloof on camel’s back, with too few I conversed.

Aloof on camel’s back, with too few I conversed.

Dark evening came once more, the stars they whirled on high, Telling not one story; the wind grew soft then still.

Dark evening came once more, the stars they whirled on high, Telling not one story; the wind grew soft then still.

Out of milky darkness, over hills with soft sigh Came “Fox chases rabbit!”, or “Weasel left the hill!”

Out of milky darkness, over hills with soft sigh Came “Fox chases rabbit!”, or “Weasel left the hill!”

Sitting still and calmly, the whole world at my feet, I dwelt upon the vale, the place I'd left behind

Sitting still and calmly, the whole world at my feet, I dwelt upon the vale, the place I'd left behind

But realized I was there, my friends in mind to meet, Brought there by the bluebird, who showed me who to find.

But realized I was there, my friends in mind to meet, Brought there by the bluebird, who showed me who to find.

Meanwhile in the valley, which no one thought would change,

Meanwhile in the valley, which no one thought would change,

The farmer bought a cat, far bigger than its peers.

The farmer bought a cat, far bigger than its peers.

Fierce and angry spitting, it through the fields would range,

Fierce and angry spitting, it through the fields would range,

Eating entire families, and filling all with fears.

Eating entire families, and filling all with fears.

I heard this from a goose, what passed my way each spring,

I heard this from a goose, what passed my way each spring,

And that night as I lay, looking up at a star,

And that night as I lay, looking up at a star,

Me thinks I heard her voice, as through voids she did sing.

Me thinks I heard her voice, as through voids she did sing.

Me thinks I heard her voice, as through voids she did sing.

Me thinks I heard her voice, as through voids she did sing.

Earth becoming silent, and then completely still.

Earth becoming silent, and then completely still.

A few days more she sang, while chilling every bone, Then she ceased ail singing, all crying from her hill.

A few days more she sang, while chilling every bone, Then she ceased ail singing, all crying from her hill.

Well it happened like this, said the goose one morning,

Well it happened like this, said the goose one morning,

As we sat on a rock, surveying a vast sweep Of Cathay’s fabled hills, my saddle-bags forming Ottoman-like cushions, bagged acorns in a heap.

As we sat on a rock, surveying a vast sweep Of Cathay’s fabled hills, my saddle-bags forming Ottoman-like cushions, bagged acorns in a heap.

The cat was so hungry, craving his nightly feast, that he killed everything, all he could find or catch.

The cat was so hungry, craving his nightly feast, that he killed everything, all he could find or catch.

A weasel helped him too, betraying every beast, Ripping rabbits from holes, and mice from roofer’s thatch.

A weasel helped him too, betraying every beast, Ripping rabbits from holes, and mice from roofer’s thatch.

Of course the bluebird knew, and sang of what she saw, Mournful dirge in day-time, distressing sobs at night.

Of course the bluebird knew, and sang of what she saw, Mournful dirge in day-time, distressing sobs at night.

In time it was her turn, the weasel knew no law, He fed the cat to her; she was eaten on sight.

In time it was her turn, the weasel knew no law, He fed the cat to her; she was eaten on sight.

The valley is now still, as far as I'm concerned, For bluebird’s voice is gone, once heard in far Cathay!

The valley is now still, as far as I'm concerned, For bluebird’s voice is gone, once heard in far Cathay!

The cat lives on his life: most beasts have not returned.

The cat lives on his life: most beasts have not returned.

Many birds now sing there, but all they do is play.

Many birds now sing there, but all they do is play.

They sing all kinds of songs, but no one understands, No one except the cat, and folk from other vales.

They sing all kinds of songs, but no one understands, No one except the cat, and folk from other vales.

I returned for one week, bright acorns in my hands,

I returned for one week, bright acorns in my hands,

Saw desolate the vale, then quit my acorn sales.

Saw desolate the vale, then quit my acorn sales.

I wander all alone, through Cathay’s plateau high,

I wander all alone, through Cathay’s plateau high,

Yet under heaven's noon, in twilight’s fading sky, In my mind bluebird sings, her shrill voice high it mounts!

Yet under heaven's noon, in twilight’s fading sky, In my mind bluebird sings, her shrill voice high it mounts!

Sleep under whirling stars, drink water from far founts,

Sleep under whirling stars, drink water from far founts,