Catwords: Story-time
Olivia and Waldo have tried all the chairs,
They've circled and batted and poked the stuffed bears.
They've dusted the chair rungs, made sure that they're clean,
Flip-flapping their tails like some scrubbing machine.
We've invited the children to hear a fine tale
Of cats and robbery and lost U.S. Mail.
We've set out the cookies and veggies and treats
To keep us all happy with stories and eats.
Our Waldo is sitting on a shelf by the door
Where the used books are sold and donations are stored.
Olivia, at the window, is searching for cars
And children and mothers and fathers and Mars.
Now the children are coming and stomping their feet.
See Waldo, he hears them. What a wonderful treat!
Olivia slips down to race for the door,
She gallops and skitters and paces and more.
Their waiting has kept them on needles all day,
They're ready for stories and children and play.
Behind them, before them, the children are there,
Pulling strings and feathers, tossing toys in the air.
And then they all sit down in a circle of ten
And read a fine story of Cats, mice and a hen,
Of Cats taking photos of mayhem galore,
The stealing of cheese and popcorn, and more;
Of mice shredding papers and packing and Mail
To keep themselves cozy near the back, in a pail.
Of taking mouse prints with fine dusting powder,
Of mouse tracks all over, not just on the counter.
These Cats are detectives, stars hang from their necks,
They've spy-glasses from galleons, they saved from shipwrecks.
They stand on their hind legs and peer over tables
And slip under the plumbing to read all the labels.
They take pride in catching those snack-stealing pests
In pulling them in and showing who's best.
They report to a pullet, who's a very fine hen,
Who clucks and worries, and can count up to ten.
She arrests all the mice and sends them away.
They'll live in their pail near the beach in dry hay.
It's a fine little story for children and parents.
For Olivia and Waldo, it's heard with forbearance.
They're ready to skitter and scamper around
And play with their children, with a leap and a bound.
And when it's all over, they'll take a long bath,
Then lie in a sunbeam, and think higher math.
By Crystal Dingler
