The Cat and the Moon

    And the moon spun¹ round like a top，

    And the nearest kin² of the moon，

    The creeping cat， looked up.

    Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon，

    For， wander and wail³ as he would，

    The pure cold light in the sky

    Troubled his animal blood.

    Minnaloushe runs in the grass

    Lifting his delicate feet.

    Do you dance， Minnaloushe， do you dance？

    When two close kindred meet，

    What better than call a dance？

    Maybe the moon may learn，

    Tired of that courtly fashion，

    A new dance turn.

    Minnaloushe creeps through the grass

    From moonlit place to place，

    The sacred moon overhead

    Has taken a new phase.

    Does Minnaloushe know that his pupils

    Will pass from change to change，

    And that from round to crescent，

    From crescent to round they range？

    Minnaloushe creeps through the grass

    Alone， important and wise，

    And lifts to the changing moon

    His changing eyes.