"Don't stand so close to me, I say: I'm a tiger cub at play! I'm not Whiskers, fluffy and mild— A dangerous striped beast, wild!
So what if I've no claws to show? I still catch mice, you know. One look of mine brings dread and fright. Not roaring? I've got a cold tonight!
But in my family line, it's true, Lions and tigers came through! So don't you dare to joke with me! Oh, how the fleas have bitten me…".
Before his lunch, the kitten made Conversation with his shade, Pulling fierce and fearsome faces, Showing off his best grimaces.
But the little mouse just laughed, Finishing her cheese so daft. Mousetraps didn't worry her one bit, She was clever, full of wit!
"Look here, look here, I say! A tiger's come to save the day! This mangy cat's so funny, see, I'll split my sides with glee!
You can't even meow right, You'd do better with a squeal of fright! You're not a tiger, don't you see— You're just a piglet, silly wee!".
The little mocker laughed away, And her gibes, like flies at play, Buzzed and buzzed around about, And bit the kitten all throughout.
But the kitten wasn't scared, He made his whisker stand prepared, After the villain he did spring, But knocked a vase—what a thing!
The cups went flying, curtains too… As if the burglars just came through, What a mess they made that day, The whole house turned the other way.
The mouse could not be caught at all, Though it seemed easy, after all, For a tiger, all things go— But in truth, it's not quite so!
Then came Mum Cat, swift and sure, To calm him down and reassure: "Just wait a bit, my little one, And catching mice will be such fun!".
