Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Over the past few days, I considered many favorite love poems to share today. Something from Shakespeare? Maybe a Beatles song, in honor of the 50th anniversary of their first visit to America. In the end, I did stick with a Brit I’ve loved since childhood. Edward Lear’s silliness has always appealed to me, and “The Owl and the Pussy-cat” is one of my all-time favorites.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
by Edward Lear
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
“O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are.
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!”
Pussy said to the Owl, “You elegant fowl!”
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?”
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?” Said the Piggy, “I will.”
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
When I was little, my mother read this poem to me from a Childcraft book of children’s poems. My own children loved poring over Jan Brett’s richly detailed illustrations for the poem. Do you have a favorite version of Lear’s classic poem?
Whether on the edge of the sand or by the light of the moon, be sure to dance on over to Teacher Dance, where Linda has the Poetry Friday Round Up. Wishing you joy this Valentine’s Day!
Reading to the Core 
We have the Jan Brett one too. I love the luscious illustrations and the tropical location. I think I’ll go find it.
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That tropical location is the perfect anecdote to this weather. Enjoy!
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The “Owl and the Pussy-cat” is always fun to read! Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Happy Valentine’s Day to you! Thanks for stopping by.
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I just like to say “runcible spoon” because it sounds so cool! Runcible spoon…runcible spoon…runcible spoon….runcible spoon!
Happy Valentines, Catherine!
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You too, Colette!
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I love Brett’s illustrations. I used to use this in the big book version with my first graders who loved it (maybe because I did!).
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Our students do pick up on our attitude towards a book, don’t they? Thanks for stopping by.
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There are some poems that feel like a cozy pair of slippers. This is one of those. Thanks for sharing it today, Catherine!
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“A cozy pair of slippers” is exactly right! Thanks for stopping by.
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Love ‘and they danced by the light of the moon’-just wonderful, Catherine. My daughter and I once memorized it, don’t have it anymore, just parts. We read from “A Child’s Book of Poems” illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa-love the poems, love the art! Thanks for sharing your favorite!
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Although it’s been many years since I read it to my kids, I do remember most of it. Somehow I’ve never seen Fujikawa’s version. I’ll have to look for it. Thanks again for hosting today, Linda!
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Hi there Catherine, this was actually one of the books I shared for Valentine last year. I have a different version though, the one illustrated by Stephane Jorisch. It had a very European vibe to it, truly lovely. 🙂
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I wasn’t familiar with Jorisch’s version, so I looked it up. You’re right, it’s very sophisticated and European. I love seeing how different artists interpret the same words. Thanks for stopping by, Myra!
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I want a runcible spoon! So nice to read this one again, it feels so cozy and comforting. Like that they dined on mince and quince :).
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I’m surprised you don’t already have one! I actually have a pin, given to me by a dear friend, of the owl & pussycat in a boat made from a runcible spoon. When I read this poem to my students, I wear it so they can actually see a runcible spoon.
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Somehow, this poem missed my childhood! I love it now, though, and Jan Brett’s illustrations are my favorites!
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