The poems of Peter and Friends

Peter

Once in Dickens' hated city,*
Lived a fearless feline four.
Till one day, to test their brav'ry
Came a knocking on the door
Be it monster, friend or beast
Who will stay to greet our guest?

Won't be I, says Baby Kitten,
Darting headfirst under bed
Peter's braver than his sister
Dons his danger floof instead
Stands his ground, well, for now on
But eyes the place where Lucy's gone

Fred decides a stroll might suit him
Bangs the cat flap as he leaves
Says not scared, just can't be bothered
Not that anyone believes.
And with utmost bravery
Quiet Ava comes to see

Sitting in the hallway shadows,
Bends a most suspicious glance
Friend or foe- who could be leading
Kitties on this merry dance
There is no more need to fear,
Favoured person - Grandma's here!

* Dickens once stated Chelmsford was “the dullest and most stupid place on earth”. It tickles me no end that there is an estate in Chelmsford called Dickens' Place, named, I like to think, entirely out of spite!

(Edit:  It's not actually called that, one of the roads is - all the roads on the estate are named after Dickens characters and books although the actual estate name is something quite different)

Ava

SONG FOR LITTLE BROTHERS BY LUCY

You better not shout

You better not bite,

You better not pounce

Or you'll get a fright

Thwappy Paws are coming to town

I'll give out a hiss

Of warning- I'm nice-

You better take heed

Not warning you twice

Thwappy Paws are coming to town

Why are you not sleeping?

You should not be awake,

I know that you're excited but

You're a cat, for goodness sake!

So settle down, squirt,

Give pouncing a rest

You don't want to put

Sister to the test

Thwappy Paws are coming to town

Lucy is the baby kitt-unnnnn

Thwappy Paws are coming to town!!!

Lucy

Purry night,

Furry night

Ava sleeps

All is right

Rumpled kitty in beautiful pile

Sweet old lady so gentle and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Purry night

Furry night

Fred's all cross, took a bite

Lucy's leaping and Pete's on the prowl

Ava wakes with a hiss and a growl

Someone is needing a thwap

Someone is needing a thwap.

Purry night

Furry night

Matriarch, stop the fight

Hush the kitten with moderate paw

Hard Stare issued and order restored

Ava, keeper of peace

Ava, keeper of peace.

A slightly out of focus Ava

Oh little cats before me

How still I see thee lie

You look so deep in slumber

I know this is a lie

You will not twitch a whisker

Through utterance or cough

But if I shake the Dreamies, you

Will take my hand right off.

All the cats (can you sort them out?)

While Hooman watched her cats by night

All sleeping on the bed

There came a burning quest-i-on

'Now is that Pete or Fred?'

For Pete had grown up big and strong

So different from the start!

That in the lamp light shadows, they

Were hard to tell apart.

Fear not! Said Hooman, for I have

An easy rule of thumb

A Pete, when stroked, will stretch and 'brrrrp'

While Fred will show his tum!

So both blue boys were given pets

And answered happily

A Merry Christmas Pete and Fred

You are so dear to me!

One of them - Peter, I think.

Oh sleep ye lazy kitty cats, let nothing you dismay

And dream of plates of turkey meat to come on Christmas day

We know you don't get fed a lot, you're wasting right away

Oh pining for Christmas turkey joy, turkey meat joy, oh pining for Christmas turkey joy.

Peter again - Beth has lots of photos of Peter!

Away from the strangers

Right under the bed

The sweet baby kitten

Is hiding instead

'I don't like the strangers

I run and I hide

But when they are gone

I'll be out by your side

For I'm the baby kitten

And happy I'll be

When the people are gone

and it's just you and me

So goodbye all the visitors

Send them off, shut the door

And put down lots of turkeys

Because Lucy wants it all'

Oh Lucy, silly kitty

You will just have to share

With your sister and brothers,

there are four who live here!

But you'll have a quiet Christmas

Lots of cuddles from me

And you'll get your plate of turkey

For you are the bay-bee!

Lucy and Beth