Monday, March 23, 2009

THE NAMING OF A CAT

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

My first name was not often used within my birth family. To my parents I was "Kitten"or "Kit", to my only sibling, younger bro' Kel, I was "Kitten Meow" with an emphasis on meow. Till we got a wonderful gray and white kitten of our own. Then a brand new cat-language evolved, and I became Felisol/Fel /Whel.
Till this day that's how my brother names me.

One might wonder if that's related
to my choleric nature. I certainly do not climb the trees anymore.
Only seldom use my claws to scratch.

However, I still purr when being cuddled.

And I love to go hunting at night!

The Naming of Cats

TS Eliot

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, It isn't just one of your holiday games; You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES. First of all, there's the name that the family use daily, Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James, Such as Victor or Jonathan, or George or Bill Bailey - All of them sensible everyday names. There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter, Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames: Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter - But all of them sensible everyday names. But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular, A name that's peculiar, and more dignified, Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride? Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum, Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat, Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum - Names that never belong to more than one cat. But above and beyond there's still one name left over, And that is the name that you never will guess; The name that no human research can discover - But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess. When you notice a cat in profound meditation, The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular Name.