Dear Readers
I was pleasantly surprised, upon opening my dusty 'The Norton Anthology of Poetry', to find a poem dedicated to a cat named Jeoffry:
From Jubilate Agno, by Christopher Smart
For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
I would go on, but won't spoil the fun for you.
God and cats - two of my most favourite subjects. Such an amazing and detailed description of a cat can only be perceived through the eyes of a cat lover, and intrigues me to the kind of person Christopher Smart was. Sadly in this book there is only one poem from him, and it looks like one of Chaucer-proportions (not forgetting the rather intimidating Latin title) and so the only way to find out more is to do some digging.
Will report back if I find out more about this man.
Love,
Lynette.
PS I am recovering from a horrible ordeal - a miscarriage, and this religious cat poem has somehow cast a real healing power over me. Thank you Lord.
