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Macavity: The Mystery Cat


Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw—
For he's the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime—Macavity's not there!

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity.
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare,
And when you reach the scene of crime—Macavity's not there!
You may seek him in the basement, you may look up in the air—
But I tell you once and once again, Macavity's not there!

Macavity's a ginger cat, he's very tall and thin;
You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in.
His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly domed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.
He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake;
And when you think he's half asleep, he's always wide awake.

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
For he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.
You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square—
But when a crime's discovered, then Macavity's not there!

He's outwardly respectable. (They say he cheats at cards.)
And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard's
And when the larder's looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,
Or when the milk is missing, or another Peke's been stifled,
Or the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair
Ay, there's the wonder of the thing! Macavity's not there!

And when the Foreign Office find a Treaty's gone astray,
Or the Admiralty lose some plans and drawings by the way,
There may be a scrap of paper in the hall or on the stair—
But it's useless to investigate—Macavity's not there!
And when the loss has been disclosed, the Secret Service say:
It must have been Macavity!'—but he's a mile away.
You'll be sure to find him resting, or a-licking of his thumb;
Or engaged in doing complicated long division sums.

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
He always has an alibi, and one or two to spare:
At whatever time the deed took place—MACAVITY WASN'T THERE !
And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
(I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)
Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time
Just controls their operations: the Napoleon of Crime!

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Comments


  • October 28
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    My favourite poem ever

    From guest Ami Mills (contact)
    I love this poem, it brings me back to my childhood. Walking home with my Mam from school kicking leaves reciting the poem. Magical.


  • October 22
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    poem

    From guest taylor (contact)
    i myselfdo not like this poem much at all, but maybe thats because i am more into the love, and hate, poetry that expresses emotion or feeling and this does not do that. but from writer to writer i think he did a decent job with the rhyme sceme. --taylor marie ♥


  • September 30
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    macavity

    From guest Jasmine woodcock (contact)
    I need this for my homework At ysgol pen-y-Bryn I need
    to print it!!!
    MOD MESSAGE
    There is a link on the right hand side for a printable version of each of our poems.
    Jim


  • September 24
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    Macavity

    From guest Ray (contact)
    Meowwwwww! A true genius! The mark of intelligence - a passion for cats. I'd forgotten how great this poem is!


  • May 27
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    Memory &recitation

    From guest Gerardus Harygens (contact)
    I was reaaly moved by the little one who Iranian/English boy who won aprize with this poem. Made me look it up.Wonderful!


  • May 8
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    From guest sumwan (contact)
    Very gurd poem,, i lurrvv it. x


  • November 24, 2008
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    From guest Lakeiya (contact)
    I am studying this poem at school. I think it is really good.


  • December 10, 2007
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    From guest J.M.T (contact)
    I love this poem! i watched the musical cats but i couldn't catch the words but it was one of my favorite songs so this helped alot because i wanted to remember the lirics! wow, saying that in one breath was hard!


  • September 27, 2007
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    i neeeed this, for my homework

    From guest colezzzzzzz (contact)
    What kind of poem is Macavity: The Mystery Cat ?

  • friendly feline
    March 12, 2006
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    thanks for tat I have been looking for this poem for most of my adult life. I had it read to me by my teacher at school and loved it! being a cat owner I love anything to do with cats. thanks again it was brill.

  • NurseHayley
    August 14, 2004
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    I used to read this one as a child and it conjured up a very vivid image of this ginger, straggly, naughty cat

    I used to like to think my old cat was a lil like Macavity as he was always out and about causing trouble!

  • Krishnaa
    September 2, 2003
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    I am not really fond of cats but this poem is so endearing and cute that I do not mind caring for a Macavity.
    krishna