The Owl and the Pussycat

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By Edward Lear

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Owl and Pussycat

I

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!’

II

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.

III

‘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.

This romantic “nonsense” by Edward Lear is a classic of children’s literature. Its lilting rhythm has a wonderful calming effect on the senses. It even works on crying babies!

Read by Natasha Lee Lewis. Duration 2.35

82 Comments

  • Laura
    Posted March 4, 2006 at 10:04 am | Permalink

    i think this poem is wonderful, please can u make more because my class luv ur stories

  • Kimberley
    Posted March 8, 2006 at 8:11 pm | Permalink

    Kimberley from Portmore Jamaica loves “The Owl and the Pussycat”

    i love this peom it lets me laugh, when I was sad. I share it with my class mates in jamaica, it was fun. Could you have a part 2 to this peom, please.

  • Posted March 8, 2006 at 9:09 pm | Permalink

    Hello Laura and Kimberley,

    I’m really glad you like the “Owl and the Pussycat”. Unfortunately, I don’t think Edward Lear wrote a “Part Two”. We will do another poem soon, and hope you like it as much.

    Bertie

  • cloe
    Posted March 17, 2006 at 8:46 pm | Permalink

    i love you and the storys and whont more storys for me and my class

  • patricia
    Posted April 6, 2006 at 1:56 pm | Permalink

    nice,good reading and want some more.

  • patricia
    Posted April 6, 2006 at 1:59 pm | Permalink

    i iove you and your storys and some more.

  • Posted April 6, 2006 at 2:22 pm | Permalink

    For those of you who like the Owl & the Pussycat, Natasha will be reading more poems soon.

  • patrick
    Posted April 12, 2006 at 1:59 am | Permalink

    edmund learunfortunatly wrote part of part 2 of the owl and the pussy cat.lear never finished it..the gist of it was the cat died and their mixed brood he refers to is left unfinished.we have been spared this desecration by his timely death..thank you

  • J.D.
    Posted May 19, 2006 at 3:59 am | Permalink

    I really like your page and the poem. In fact I have illustrated this beautiful poem as well as others. I would like to share these images with you. Please visit my page, “Where The Bong Tree Grows”. The Art of J.D.Gibson

  • Bertie
    Posted May 19, 2006 at 7:50 am | Permalink

    Hi J.D,

    I can’t find your website “where the Bong Tree Grows” could you let us have the URL address?

  • J.D.
    Posted May 24, 2006 at 6:37 pm | Permalink

    I’m sorry about that. I had to change some things around, but I think it’s OK now. The URL is: http//jdgibsonart.blogspot.com
    I’m new here but I think I’m getting the hang of it. Let me know when you get there.
    Thanks, J.D.
    P.S. I love your page!

  • Posted May 28, 2006 at 5:47 pm | Permalink

    JD – I still can’t find your site. Please just drop an email, Bertie@storynory.com and let’s get in touch.

  • lynn
    Posted July 14, 2006 at 2:30 am | Permalink

    hi! i am lynn. i really think the poem was GREAT! have you got more romantic poems or stories or articles?

  • ms
    Posted September 14, 2006 at 8:37 am | Permalink

    it was ok but need to make it fun

  • praneeth
    Posted January 2, 2007 at 4:05 pm | Permalink

    i like this poem very much i love poems very muchhhhhhhh

  • lydia
    Posted February 13, 2007 at 2:48 pm | Permalink

    i love it atacha

  • kiran
    Posted April 23, 2007 at 2:01 pm | Permalink

    this is a great poem!!!!! my favourite!!!

  • kiranrai
    Posted April 23, 2007 at 2:02 pm | Permalink

    this is agreat story for children!!!!!!!!!!!

  • lou
    Posted May 27, 2007 at 7:15 pm | Permalink

    hey babes lovin this poem its fab. wooooooooooo hhhhhoooooooooooooo . rock on pems yayyyy

  • lou
    Posted May 27, 2007 at 7:15 pm | Permalink

    he

  • sdd nmf
    Posted August 1, 2007 at 8:42 am | Permalink

    thank u

  • isaac
    Posted August 7, 2007 at 12:36 pm | Permalink

    good

  • Mariam
    Posted September 6, 2007 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

    This poem makes senes
    I love this poem

  • arig
    Posted September 6, 2007 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

    that

  • mono
    Posted September 6, 2007 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

    no arig

  • Jian
    Posted November 3, 2007 at 12:25 am | Permalink

    I liked the part when they danced by the light of the moon

  • Helen
    Posted November 16, 2007 at 10:24 am | Permalink

    does anyone know if a bong tree is real and what it looks like its for an animation

  • namthi
    Posted December 7, 2007 at 3:53 am | Permalink

    it’s very exciting and suitable to children

  • miguel
    Posted January 3, 2008 at 10:13 pm | Permalink

    I love it

  • charlie
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 9:38 am | Permalink

    I
    think the owl and the pussy cat is complete nonsense

  • oliver
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 9:38 am | Permalink

    I thought the owl and the pussy cat was very funny

  • heather
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 9:41 am | Permalink

    I love it because it is a real twist in nature.

  • corbbi
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 9:43 am | Permalink

    I love it.it is realy funny.I love the discribing of the boat and ilike the word bong tree.

  • Harry
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 9:48 am | Permalink

    The discription is great its funny to,and I think Edward Lear had a good imagination.

  • joseph
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 9:49 am | Permalink

    The story was alright and funny to,and i liked it.

  • Harry
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 9:53 am | Permalink

    The owl and the pussy cat is a great poem because its very funny and the discription is great.

  • bethany
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    I like it because its very funny and it has alot of describing words in it and it has very good text in, and it is suitable for all style of age.

  • caitlin
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 10:00 am | Permalink

    I like it because it is funny and good for little children

  • sam
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 10:02 am | Permalink

    It is very desciptive?

  • sam
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 10:03 am | Permalink

    It is very descriptive?

  • kane
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 10:05 am | Permalink

    It is very funny and very descriptive the nonsense words are very weird

  • Lauren
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 10:10 am | Permalink

    I love the owl and the pussycat because the nonsense words make it funny tied in with the rhythm.Also it has funny words like Bong-Tree and Piggy-Wig

  • Emma
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 10:11 am | Permalink

    I liked this poem because the nonsence rhymes make it good for children and adults to read! Also it has funny words to intreast young readers like ‘bong-tree’

  • Lauren
    Posted January 16, 2008 at 10:15 am | Permalink

    I loved the owl and the pussycat because of the nonsese word and the rhymic pattern.Also I liked the
    words liked Bong-Tree and Piggy-Wig.

  • james
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:24 am | Permalink

    i think it is very relaxing also very funny,very also liked the rhymes at he start they were cool.

  • oliver
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:25 am | Permalink

    I think it was a tounge-tying twister of rhyming words and i think it is also very funny.

  • Stephanie
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    I love,it because it has some wonderful adjectives and nonsence.

  • Emily
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:33 am | Permalink

    I like the poam because it is a nonsence and funny!

  • cam
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:39 am | Permalink

    I think it is very funny I like the story.

  • nathan
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:39 am | Permalink

    I realy liked the poem because it has a good rythme and I the use of rhyming

  • ellie
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:44 am | Permalink

    i like the poem because it is funny and i like the the word piggy wig and bong trees

  • danielle
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:46 am | Permalink

    I think it is very funny it is also suitable for children. I also like the charactors and the way you set the story out!

  • Emily
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:49 am | Permalink

    I love this poem I is a good story aswell I think this would make a good story for children learning to read.

  • reuben
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:49 am | Permalink

    it was great it was mega funny

  • George
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:53 am | Permalink

    it was a realy funny
    nonsense poem

  • Nicola
    Posted January 17, 2008 at 11:54 am | Permalink

    I liked the owl and the pussycat it was very funny.

  • lizzy and emma
    Posted January 18, 2008 at 11:46 am | Permalink

    we think it is very romantic poem and we liked the word piggy-wig!

  • Bethany and Rachael
    Posted January 18, 2008 at 11:52 am | Permalink

    We like the poem because we like the word Bong tree and it is very nonsense

  • joseph
    Posted January 20, 2008 at 12:27 pm | Permalink

    this poem is a fuuny one

  • joseph
    Posted January 20, 2008 at 3:59 pm | Permalink

    the owl and the pussycat is a great discripted poem and is a nonsence poem and is really got alout of ryming words.

  • Emily
    Posted January 23, 2008 at 8:34 pm | Permalink

    I think this poem is cool

  • Anonymous
    Posted February 4, 2008 at 11:52 pm | Permalink

    my students loved this rhyme.

  • nolan
    Posted February 11, 2008 at 11:27 am | Permalink

    very very good

  • Arash
    Posted March 3, 2008 at 3:27 pm | Permalink

    That’s perfect.
    I really love it.
    But, I don’t know why the audio part isn’t complete.

  • Posted March 4, 2008 at 6:47 am | Permalink

    Hi Arash

    For some reason the audio gets stuck sometimes. If you are still having trouble, please try our back up audio file here

    http://storynory.com/audio/owlpussycat.mp3

  • abbi
    Posted March 7, 2008 at 8:13 pm | Permalink

    i like your vedio!

  • abbi
    Posted March 7, 2008 at 8:15 pm | Permalink

    it has a funny tidle!

  • Audra
    Posted April 17, 2008 at 2:55 pm | Permalink

    IT WAS GRRATE.

  • Lorraine
    Posted June 18, 2008 at 8:08 am | Permalink

    it’s a great poem, we are doing it as a project in our calligiaphy class with ilustrations of the characters.

  • Posted September 4, 2008 at 9:51 pm | Permalink

    grad anime hentai grad hentai videos

  • louise
    Posted September 23, 2008 at 5:11 pm | Permalink

    i didnt like it =( it wz SOOOO boring!!
    nd not funny

  • sylvia
    Posted September 29, 2008 at 8:31 am | Permalink

    I love it, it is sooo sweet!

  • morgan
    Posted October 1, 2008 at 6:12 pm | Permalink

    boaring

  • Posted October 7, 2008 at 6:11 pm | Permalink

    WEBKINZ IS FUN

  • sharanya
    Posted October 16, 2008 at 5:04 pm | Permalink

    hi bertie
    i am longing to meet you and just waiting thinking one day you will turn back into a handsomest prince in the whole universe.

    luv
    shranya :)

  • Posted October 16, 2008 at 11:20 pm | Permalink

    Thank you Sharanya that’s very nice of you

  • jessica
    Posted October 26, 2008 at 5:28 am | Permalink

    amazing!

  • Eman Anita
    Posted February 11, 2009 at 6:28 am | Permalink

    this story is beatyful and funny!

  • Limin
    Posted February 26, 2009 at 9:49 am | Permalink

    This story made me in terrible
    shock do animals have shilings?
    this is totally nonsense!!!!!

    limin

  • Maya
    Posted June 24, 2009 at 6:52 am | Permalink

    my mom loves this poem! I like it to

  • Donna
    Posted June 25, 2009 at 11:23 am | Permalink

    Hello! can we also contribute poems and stories? I really love this website. ^_^

  • Posted June 25, 2009 at 12:48 pm | Permalink

    Dear Donna, I’m really sorry but we don’t accept poems and stories at the moment. We do our own. Maybe one day… Thanks for asking though.

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