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Puss In Boots In Verse

Hello. This is Jana and I’m here with one of fairy tale land’s most famous characters:
Puss in Boots.

He’s the hero of many a holiday pantomime here in Britain. He’s appeared as a character in the film Shrek and he’s even starred in his own movie.

But this version is a bit older than the movie. It was written in 1891 by JL Marks.
Our hero is a very clever cat who likes to dress up as a human and walk around in a pair of boots. He performs all sorts of tricks to make his master rich. I would like a cat like that - and I’m sure you would too.
Puss in Boots in Verse

There once lived a man who was terribly poor,
With nothing to show but a Cat.
When his food was all gone, and he couldn’t buy more,
He thought he must get rid of that Cat.
But Puss leapt out and boldly did say,
“Don’t worry, dear master, don’t frown.
Just give me some boots and a bag right away,
I’ll soon win you fortune and crown.”

He baited his bag with some parsley and bread,
And off to the warren he ran.
He lay himself down as if he were dead,
And waited as rabbits began.
One hopped in the bag, and Puss tightened the string—
The rabbit was caught in a flash.

“I’ll carry this gift to the king,” said the Cat,
“He’ll smile at so tasty a catch.”
Next day he went to a field of wheat,
And caught two partridges fair.

He carried them off as a right royal treat,
And laid them before the king’s chair.
“From the Marquis of Carabas, mighty sire,”
Said Puss, with a bow deep and low.
The king took the gifts with a pleased desire,
And Puss felt his fortunes would grow.
The king took a journey to see his domain,
His daughter beside him so fair.
Now listen, for here is the heart of my tale—
Some trickery waits for us there.
To a towering castle the Cat quickly came,

Where an Ogre was lord of the land.
“Good day, mighty sir,” said the Cat with a bow,
“May I ask you a thing, understand?
They say, mighty Ogre, throughout all the land,
You’ve got the magical power to change—
To turn into beasts at the wave of your hand—
Such wonders are marvellous and strange.”
“To prove it is true,” said the Ogre with pride,
“I’ll change right in front of your face!”

He roared as a lion, with thunderous stride—
Poor Puss nearly fled from the place!
“Most mighty, indeed!” said the Cat with a mew,
“Your power is truly quite grand.
But tell me, great sir, could you shrink down too—
To a mouse that could run o’er the sand?”

“Of course!” cried the Ogre, and changed in a blink,
To a mouse that went squeaking once more.
With a leap and a snap, Puss had eaten his fill,
And the Ogre was seen nevermore.
The king and the princess soon came to the hall,
But Puss had arrived there with speed.
He bowed and he welcomed them in with a call,
And served them a banquet indeed.

In the castle so grand they sat down to dine,
Where the tables were laden and sweet.
That very same day, the young Marquis did shine,
For he wed the king’s daughter complete.
And so Puss in Boots won his lasting renown,
For cunning, for wit, and disguise.
He made his poor master the talk of the town—
The happiest man in all our eyes.
So I told you he was a clever cat and I wasn’t wrong.
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From me Jana, at Storynory, bye for now!