Please enjoy the below odes to Henry the Cat from 2004 in memory and honor of Henry, his dad, and all who brought us joy in this life while they were here.
‘Twas three weeks before Christmas, when all through the house
Only Henry was stirring, in search of his mouse.
The tree in the corner was decorated with care,
In hopes that it would be peacefully left there.
The tree all aglow with garland and lights,
Kept the living room lit on the cold winter nights.
Carson with his pillow and I with my quilt
Had just settled down—we were ready to wilt.
When from the living room arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
To check out the source I flew like a flash,
Tore through the hallway; past the table I dashed.
The cat by the door with his eyes open wide
I looked ’round the room and softly I sighed,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
Our tree on the floor the second time this year.
My silly little cat, so lively and quick,
Had just pulled the tree down; I wanted to KICK!
The tree was strewn across the living room floor
And Henry, all wide-eyed, just froze on all fours.
I unplugged the tree and put it away
That little cat is NOT going to play.
But I heard him meow as he ran through the night
“That Christmas Tree’s yummy, and you know I’m right!”
Henry Cat is Prowling Around
to the tune of “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”
You better watch out, you better keep spry
Keep looking about, I’m telling you why
Henry Cat is prowling around.
He’s peering around the edge of the door
He’s going to leap out; he’s ready to soar.
Henry Cat is prowling around!
He pounces when you’re sleeping
He hops when you’re awake
His eyes grow wide as he prepares
So watch out, for goodness’ sake!
What Cat is This?
to the tune of “What Child is This”
What cat is this, who, woke me up
From slumber deep, with chatter?
Whose kitty drags like paper bags
Looking so torn and tattered?
This, this is Henry Cat
Who drags his kitty through the house
Why? Why do you do that?
It’s just a Beanie Baby.
Up on the cabinets, Henry sits
Up there he will give us fits
Down on the floor, we stand and stare
He’s going to knock stuff everywhere.
Oh, Oh no! Look at him go…
Oh, Oh no! There goes my bowl…
Up on the cabinets
Clink, clank crash
There goes mommy’s favorite glass.
All I Want for Christmas is to Have a Tail
to the tune of “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth”
All I want for Christmas
is to have a tail,
to have a tail,
just that one detail!
Gee, if I could only
have a normal tail,
then I would “swish” you
“Merry Christmas.”
It’d be so nice if I could sit,
swishing my appendage-like extension
Oh how happy I would be,
I have no apprehension!
I walked on mommy’s sleepy head;
Somebody snitched on me.
I spilled some pop onto the bed;
Somebody snitched on me.
Knocked a toy under the door
Climbed into the dresser drawer
Chased a bug around the floor
Somebody snitched on me.
Oh, I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad.
I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas
‘Cause I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad.
On the first day of Christmas, my Henry gave to me
A cat bite on the knee
On the second day of Christmas, my Henry gave to me
Two enormous pupils
Three of his “friends”
Four crawling bugs
Five Milk Rings
Six nights-of-playing
Seven bunny hops
Eight ways of stalking
Nine soaring leaps
Ten nights of sleeping
Eleven sniper-pounces
Twelve toppled plants
