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Magical Mister Mistoffolees

SONG: From "Cats": the musical. Written by T.S. Elliot and Composed by Andrew Llyod Webber.

You ought to ask Mr. Mistoffolees!
The original conjuring cat--
(There can be no doubt about that!)
Please listen to me and don't scoff; All his
Inventions are off his own bat
There's no such cat in the metropolis
He holds all the patent monopolies
For performing surprising illusions
And creating eccentric confusions!

The greatest magicians have something to learn
From Mister Mistoffolees' conjuring turn

And we all say,
Oh!  Well I never!  Was there ever
A cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffolees

He is quiet, he is small, he is black
From the ears to the tip of his tail
He can creep through the tiniest crack
He can walk on the narrowest rail
He can pick any card from a pack
He is equally cunning with dice
He is always deceiving you into believing
That he's only hunting for mice

He can play any trick with a cork
Or a spoon and a bit of fish paste
If you look for a knife or a fork
And you think it is merely misplaced
You have seen it one moment and then it's gone
But you find it next week lying on the lawn!

His manner is vague and aloof
You would think there was nobody shyer
But his voice has been heard on the roof
When he was curled up by the fire

And he's sometimes been heard by the fire
When he was about on the roof
At least we all heard that somebody purred
Which is uncontestable proof of his singular magical powers

And I've known the family to call him in from the garden for hours
When he was asleep in the hall
And not long ago this phenomenal cat
Produced seven kittens right out of a hat!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the marvelous, magical Mr. Mistoffolees!
Presto!

The privilege of knowing a cat.

3, October 1996
written by Samantha Linaschhke

author's note: Dedicated to my first beloved cat companion for he was called into the Summerland to the temple of Bastet on October 2, 1996. I will miss you my dear little witch kitty.

Xavier

-Samantha Linaschhke, © 1996

"I'll loan you for a little while a child of mine," God said,
"For you to love while she lives and mourn for when she's gone.
It maybe sixty-seven years, it may be two or three,
But will you until I call her back, take care of her for me?"

I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord Thy will be done.
For all the gifts this child has shown, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter her with tenderness, we'll love her while we may.
For all the love this child has brought we'll forever grateful stay."

"She'll bring her charm to gladden you, and should her stay be brief,
You'll cherish her loving memories as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise she will stay, since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught below that I want this child to learn.

I've searched this whole world over in search of teachers true,
And through the things that crowd life's love, I have chosen you.
Now will you give her all your love, nor hate me when I come
To take my loaned child back again?"

© -- Edgar Guest