I once met a magician who wore a great big hat
Out of it, though, he could only pull a cat
Quite miserable he was, thanks to this turn of events
Anything else was fine - he could conjure up tents
In a snap of the fingers and a slide of the hand
He could make those tiny houses stand
Tents he could work with, he was quite brilliant with those
But as for why only cats, really who knows?
"Perform me a magic trick," I asked him one day
He cracked one eye open from the grass where he lay
"My magic's no good, not unless you like cats,
Or tents, but really, why would you want that?"
"I don't mind," said I, "not even at all,
I just want to see a trick, no matter how small!"
The magician straightened from his spot on the ground
He pulled down his hat, started poking around
"Cats and more cats, as far as the eye can see!
My, my, what is wrong with me?"
He sniffled a bit, looking quite torn
"Sometimes I wonder why I was born.
Just for cats? Is that really the case?"
A delicate tear rolled down on his face.
"I should think not," I replied,
Sitting down at his side,
"Your hat is so big and so wide and so great,
I am sure there is more than cats to your fate.
But, dear Magician, all that aside,
I think cats are quite nice and tender inside."
"I will search and search," vowed he,
"Until I will find something else inside me!"
His whole arm was deep in that hat,
"Nothing but cats and more cats and that's that!"
"But why is that wrong?" I asked, my voice ever so soft,
The magician gave a confused cough.
"Because they are not rabits, not doves,
They don't fit the norm!"
He walked around, starting to storm,
"More importantly, they make me weird and strange and all that,
It's all because of my stupid hat!"
On the ground now he sat.
"Well, these cats," I said, "They're a part of you,
Aren't they part of what you call being true?
So your cats aren't normal, not what you usually see,
I'll give you that, but you listen to me!
You have cats and no doves and no rabits, too
But if you had that, would that really be you?
You have cats, and you should be proud!
And you should also stop moping around!"
The magician glanced at his hat, a smile finding its way to his lips.
"You, dear friend, give quite a few tips."
He continued on saying, "You do have a point,
You quite do indeed,
It's a different life that I'm going to lead.
Cats aren't bad, they aren't, that is true
And they are part of me, so frankly, thank you."
He tipped his hat and gave a great grin,
Stuck his arm all the way in.
He pulled out a chubby tabby cat out of his hat
With ginger hair and all that,
And said, "This is yours. He's really quite sweet.
Doesn't know how to appreciate the things that he has,
but so be it."
Setting up a tent, he went inside,
And I only blinked and there was no one by my side.
I looked my new cat straight in the eye.
"I'll teach you, don't worry," said I.
