THE CAT AND THE GOLDSMITH

                1

A cat avid to learn the art of Gold-Coating
Reached the mart of Jambuka the Smith.

"The Art of gold- coating is not for  cats"

                                       quoth the Smith.

But the cat wouldn't deter

"No, we won't allow this unjust monopoly...

We too cognized the tiger- brain that

owned all the great arts and comforts of life

Never will be beaten back

and will we win all by fighting".

Rolling his tail,wiggling his moustache,

Mewed the cat awhile

The other cats too got organised.

Then the wise Jambuka brooded on

"Monopolies, handled over to generations

will be lost forever..."

Amicably he held up the cat's palm, and

offered yo give him lessons, and

crookedly led within,

then pushing him into the smithy's den,

He shut the doors fast....

                             2

The Smith-giant then appeared

Holding an idol of a cat guilded in Gold

And behind him was his retinue 

Armed with swords, daggers, choppers,

Bombs and bicycle chains...

"Come Cat brethren, come

And learn the gold melting lore..."

He, then, placed the cat-image in the furnace

And then the liquid gold began to ooze;

with his gold-armour melted deep,

The fair body of the cat-hero blistered,

Burned and roasted awhile.

All the cats got shuddered

And the goldsmith's mood too changed.

There was a mass-wailing

Pathetic cries and mewings.

An unwitting tremor of a battle

"What is to the cat where gold is melted?"

Quoth the Smith King, laughing aloud.