Loulou and her Cat

GOOD pastry is vended

   In Cité Fadette;

Maison Pons can make splendid

   Brioche and galette.

M'sieu Pons is so fat that

   He's laid on the shelf;

Madame had a Cat, that

   Was fat as herself.

Long hair, soft as satin,

   A musical purr,

'Gainst the window she'd flatten

   Her delicate fur.

I drove Lou to see what

   Our neighbours were at,

In rapture, cried she, "What

   An exquisite cat!"

"What whiskers! She's purring

   All over. Regale

Our eyes, Puss, by stirring

   Thy feathery tail!

"M'sieu Pons, will you sell her?"

   "Ma femme est sortie,

Your offer I'll tell her;

   But will she?" says he.

Yet Pons was persuaded

   To part with the prize:

(Our bargain was aided,

   My Lou, by your eyes!)

From his légitime save him, --

   My spouse I prefer,

For I warrant his gave him

   Un mauvais quart d'heure.

I am giving a pleasant

   Grimalkin to Lou,

--Ah, Puss, what a present

   I'm giving to you!

Frederick Locker-Lampson