"Don't stand so close to me, I say: I'm a tiger cub at play! I'm not Whiskers, all so fluffy— I'm a dangerous striped, gruff one!
So what if I've no claws to show? I still catch mice, you know. One glance alone brings fear and fright. Not growling? Well, 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 my, these fleas won't let me be…".
The kitten spoke unto his mirror, Making faces, growing clearer, Practising his fiercest grimace, Showing off with all his antics.
But the little mouse just laughed, Finishing her cheese so daft. Mousetraps didn't scare her one bit, Very clever, quite a wit!
"Look here, look here, I say! A tiger's come to save the day! This mangy kitten makes me roar, I'll split my sides, I laugh some more!
You can't even meow just right, You'd do better with a squeal so tight! You're no tiger, that's for sure, You're a piglet, I'm quite sure!"
The little mocker laughed away, And her jests, like flies at play, Buzzed and buzzed around about, And they bit the kitten out.
But the kitten wasn't scared, He made whiskers, fully prepared, After the rogue he jumped right then, Knocked a vase down once again!
Cups went flying, curtains too… Like a burglar had come through, What a mess they made that day, Turned the whole house every way!
Catching mice seemed quite a task, Though it seemed so simple, ask, For a tiger, all's within reach. But in truth, it's hard to teach!
Mother cat came running fast, Calmed him down at long, long last: "Grow up just a little more, dear one, And you'll catch each mouse for fun!"
