"Don't stand so close to me, I say: I'm a tiger cub, not a cat at play! I'm not Barsik, all fluffy and fair— I'm a dangerous striped beast, beware!
So what if I've no claws to show? I still catch mice, you know. One look from me brings dread 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 jest with me! Oh, how the fleas have bitten me…"
Before his lunch, the kitten small Was having quite a chat with all, Making fearsome grimaces wide, Showing off with silly pride.
But the little mouse just laughed away, Finishing her cheese that day. Mousetraps didn't scare her so, She was cunning, don't you know!
"Look here, look here, I say! A tiger's come to save the day! This mangy cat's made me laugh so hard, I'll split my sides, oh what a bard!
You can't even meow just right, You'd do better with a snort, what a sight! You're not a tiger, not at all, You're a little piglet, small!"
The cheeky mouse laughed without end, And her mockery, like flies to offend, Buzzed and buzzed all round about, And bit the kitten, there's no doubt.
But the kitten was no coward, no sir, He made his whiskers stand and stir, After the rogue he leapt with speed, But knocked a vase down in his deed!
The cups went flying, curtains too… As if the thieves had just come through, What a mess they made that day, The whole house turned the other way.
The mouse was caught? Not on your life, It seemed so simple, free from strife, For a tiger, all things are done. But in truth, it's not such fun!
Then mother cat came to the scene, And calmed things down, if you know what I mean: "Just wait a bit, my little one, And you'll catch mice when you've grown, it's done!"
