SOME THINGS you can’t make happen, no matter how hard you try. For years I struggled to get a pop-up version of THE OWL and the PUSSYCAT published, but I could never overcome the fixed belief that the poem wasn’t well enough known in North America.
I still find it strange, this idea that people only want what they already know. Aren’t we inquisitive creatures by nature, do we really prefer confirmation to new knowledge? Edward Lear’s tender nonsense verse is a classic and I hope that one day, regardless of my involvement, the pea-green boat manages to sail clear across the Atlantic.
THE OWL and the PUSSYCAT © Nick Bantock
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
By Edward Lear
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
“O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!”
Pussy said to the Owl, “You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?”
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?” Said the Piggy, “I will.”
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
Image Credit
THE OWL and the PUSSYCAT © Nick Bantock – All Rights Reserved
Guest Author Bio
Nick Bantock
Nick was schooled in England and has a BA in Fine Art (painting). He has authored 25 books, 11 of which have appeared on the best seller lists, including 3 books on the New York Times top ten at one time. ‘Griffin and Sabine’ stayed on that list for over two years. His works have been translated into 13 languages and over 5 million have been sold worldwide. Once named by the classic SF magazine Weird Tales as one of the best 85 storytellers of the century. His paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages and prints have been exhibited in shows in UK, France and North America. In 2010 Nick’s major retrospective exhibition opened at the MOA in Denver. His works are in private collections throughout the world. Nick has a lifetime BAFTA (British Oscar) for CD Rom ‘Ceremony of Innocence’, created with Peter Gabriel’s Real World.
Produced artwork for over 300 book covers (including works by Roth and Updike), illustrated Viking Penguin’s new translation of Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’.
For 20 years he’s spoken and read to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia. He’s also given keynote and motivational speeches to corporations and teachers state conferences.
‘The Trickster’s Hat (A Mischievous Apprenticeship in Creativity)’, Nick’s workshop book
will be published the first week in January 2014!
Visit Nick’s Shop On Etsy: BANTOCKart
Follow Nick On Facebook
Website: www.nickbantock.com
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