That Railway Cat, A tribute to TSE Options

[jgdittier]

The Railway Cat is "Skimbleshanks",
as known to T.S.E.
No feline brat, a pure-bred manx,
the rails he'll oversee.
In poetry the cadence chose
repeats the sounds of wheels
and do agree, also of Poe's,
a careful read reveals.
I'll take that train to Gallowgate
and drink champaign with Skimble.
I'll help assort the night mail freight
"On time", the Skimble symbol.
In Gallogate I'll doff my hat
to Skimble and his bard.
So high they rate, both Tom and cat...
They're held in high regard.

[jgdittier]

Dear James,
Macavity:

http://www.americanpoems.com/poetrs/tseliot/5530

note- 4211 lurkers
         4 responders
         
I'd enjoy a chance to write a serious paraphrase of "Macavity" but it's likely not to be in the public domaine and the U.S. swarms with contingency lawyers looking for trouble and a fast "buck" (dollar).
They couldn't get much money but I scare easily!

I'm surprized that Old Possem verse is R&R. I hadn't read Eliot because I concentrate on R&R and expected OP to be free verse.
I saw "Cats", the musical, which though ingeniously presented and containing that one unforgettable musical number, was disappointed. I was expecting too much.

Reading OP however is just the opposite. Eliot here writes in the manner I regard my favorite.
I like the repetition metered poetry offers. Thus, if I read line one, I'm ready to guess with high accuracy the way line 2 will bounce and when it does, I greatly appreciate it.
Folks who have advanced in poetry often tend to prefer ingenious rhyme schemes
like in petrarchian sonnets with separated end rhymes, abcabc.
Simple couplets to me are tight rhymes and internal rhymes add too.

If my preferences are considered light verse, I'd consider OP also light verse and now have a whole new experience awaiting me. I thought
Eliot wrote only fv and only serious poetry. Today's learning has me a month ahead!

I'll drink to Mr. Eliot!
Cheers,    jgd    Ron