A Houyhnhnm's Scrapbook/Number 1/Caterwaul

A white cat and a yellow cat
Sat on my steps and growled and spat.

You might have thought their castigation
Of each other came about
Because of different pigmentation,
But that was not why they fell out.

They hoped that there might be some fish
Left over from the dinner dish—

Or even (rapture) some calf liver.
Snarling grow! and spit and bawl,
Annoying sounds to me, the giver,
Meant only that each wanted all.

I sallied forth with broom in hand
And swept those cats off my land.