An Inquiry

A Birdie cocked his little head,
    Winked his eye at me and said,
"Say, are you a Pussy Willer,
    Or just a Kitty-Catty pillar?"

Oliver Herford

Oliver Herford was born in England on December 2, 1860. He was a British-born American writer, artist, and illustrator, often referred to as 'The American Oscar Wilde' for his sharp wit and humorous works. Herford authored and illustrated many books for children and adults, contributing to magazines such as "The Criterion", "Life", and "Punch". He died on July 5, 1935, in France.

Oliver Herford

The Rhinoceros.

Oliver Herford, Simple Poetry

John S. Sargent

Oliver Herford, Simple Poetry

To The Clock

Oliver Herford, Simple Poetry

The Salamander

Oliver Herford, Simple Poetry

English

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A Kitten's Fancy

The Kitten mews outside the Door,
    The Cat-bird in the Tree,
The Sea-mew mews upon the Shore,
    The Catfish in the Sea.

The Emu with his feathers queer
    Is mewing in the Zoo.
Why is it that I never hear
    A Pussy-willow mew?

Oliver Herford

Puss At Court

"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, where have you been?"
"I've been to London to look at the Queen."
"Pussy-cat, pussy-cat, what did you there?"
"I caught a little mouse under the chair."

Walter Crane

The Game

Watching a ball on the end of a string,
    Watching it swing back and to,
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
    Ever a Kitten can do.

First it goes this way, then it goes that,
    Just like a bird on the wing.
And all of a tremble I crouch on the mat
    Like a Lion, preparing to spring.

And now with a terrible deafening mew,
    Like a Tiger I leap on my prey,
And just when I think I have torn it in two
    It is up in the air and away.

Oliver Herford

Pussy-Cat

Pussy-cat high, Pussy-cat low,
Pussy-cat was a fine teazer of tow.

Pussy-cat she came into the barn,
With her bag-pipes under her arm.

And then she told a tale to me,
How Mousey had married a humble bee.

Then was I ever so glad,
That Mousey had married so clever a lad.

Walter Crane

Pussy-cat

Pussy-cat sits by the fire;
    How should she be fair?
In walks the little dog,
    Says "Pussy! are you there?"

"How do you do, Mistress Pussy?
    Mistress Pussy, how do you do?"
"I thank you kindly, little dog,
    I fare as well as you!"

Helen Beatrix Potter

The Puncture

When I was just a Kitten small,
    They gave to me a Rubber Ball
To roll upon the floor.
    One day I tapped it with my paw
And pierced the rubber with my claw;
    Now it will roll no more.

Oliver Herford