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.

[Guest_Jox_*]

Hi Ron,

Not quite sure I understand - you wrote a poem on Skimbleshanks - what is different about my mate Mac?

Talking about one writer feeding off another - Mac is largely based on Morriarity (Sherlock Holmes' arch enemy - Connan Doyle), TS Elion has actually used Sir Arthur's description (head highly domed) in the poem. What comes around, goes around! (I am fascinated by Holmes, too by the way - Sir Arthur Connan Doyle is burried about 25 miles from where I'm sitting).

I think Mac etc is serious poetry but with a whimiscal delivery.

Cats - never seen but I don't like musicals so I shall avoid it. (There are exceptions - Beethoven's Fidelio - his only opera - is excellent.) Lord LLoyd-Webber (Andrew LLoyd-Webber who wrote cats and many other musicals, also lives near me - about fifteen miles in the opposit direction - but I'd prefer to visit Sir Arthur's grave any day).

Now... what about a skit on "The Waste Land"???

All the best, James.