The naming of cats

Tuesday 5th June 2012 6:16 pm

Today we have naming of cats. Yesterday
we had a game of chess. And tomorrow morning,
we shall have how to wear your trousers rolled. But today,
today we have naming of cats. The chessboard
waits, simple like one of our holiday games,
and today we have naming of cats.

This is the use-name. And this
is the particular name, whose use you will see
when you are given a cat. And this is the private name,
which in your case you have not got. The cats
think to themselves of ineffable names,
which in our case we have not got.

Comments

<Deleted User> (6315)

Wed 20th Jun 2012 23:09

aha!! gottcha Thomas..I do not know the second poem..hmmmm :( easily remidied though!

Yvonne Brunton

Wed 13th Jun 2012 22:18

My cat has pointed out that there's a little touch of TS Elliot's 'lovesong of J Alfred Prufrock' in there too. I countered this by wondering if perhaps it might have been an oblique reference to obscure Masonic rites but she pointed out that cats are not in the habit of wearing trousers and anyway maybe Prufrock was a wannabee Mason and would I hurrrrry up with her saucer of milk please?
PS I love the poem.

Julian (Admin)

Thu 7th Jun 2012 12:07

David Machin does a brilliant version: today we shall have closing of wards... nurses, which in our case we have not got, etc.
This works well Thomas, though I agree with Ann, that it stops en route. Cats not my thing though.

Ann Foxglove

Thu 7th Jun 2012 09:50

The Naming of Parts is it called? Can't recall who it is by but well remember bits esp the "which in our case we have not got" line. Read it at school.

Ah, just saw your comment - I don't know the cat poem tho have heard of it of course.

John Coopey

Wed 6th Jun 2012 15:12

Excellent, Thomas. I'm disappointed you gave the game away about its provenance, though - I wanted to show off my limited literary knowledge!

Marnanel Thurman

Wed 6th Jun 2012 09:23

I was wondering which she meant, because this was a deliberate mashup of Eliot's "Naming of Cats" and Henry Reed's "Naming of Parts". If you don't know both of them, it will make less sense.

<Deleted User> (6315)

Wed 6th Jun 2012 00:53

Hiya Thomas I think Ann most probably means T.S. Elliot The Naming of Cats

His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.

I enjoyed your cat read.

Marnanel Thurman

Tue 5th Jun 2012 23:50

Thank you! Out of interest, which do you think the original poem is?

Ann Foxglove

Tue 5th Jun 2012 22:09

Clever - feel I'd like a couple more verses. Seems slightly incomplete to me. Maybe there needs to be more of a connection between the original poem and yours - PS. have you just got a cat? =.=

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The naming of cats

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