The Owl and the Pussycat

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Tue, 23 Jul 2024
  • 884 reads
20 comments
 
The Owl and the Pussycat hoped
that they would go out to sea
in a beautiful inflatable boat
hired from an unprincipled Stoat.
 
He said he'd take them across
but he wanted plenty of money;
to the odd pair he gave a quote:
for each a one-thousand-euro note.
 
The Owl looked up to the stars 
and with great delight he sang
while plucking a small guitar:
"our destination is not very far."
 
They embarked on the vessel
and the waters were choppy.
The boat's structure was weak
and soon it developed a leak.
 
Rescuers saved them in time.
The question is, where was the Pig?
Someone said "I gave him a ring
and yet he didn't do anything."
 
People expressed much concern
for failing to find a solution.
Some insisted: stop the boats!
Others said: catch the Stoats
 
Well-intentioned as they are
these suggestions may not work.
It's important we do not pause
but find the problem's cause.
 
 
 
© Luigi Pagano 2024
 
For our Inspiration Point this week, please take a fairy or folk tale and put it firmly into the 21st century.  
Certificate U
Poem
Cherry ripe
Surreal
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by airyfairy on

Unprincipled stoats indeed. Very well-observed, Luigi.

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Thank you, Jane.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

An interesting take, Luigi. One cause, or multiple? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

An interesting question, Rhiannon. More than one cause I suspect but difficult to identify the catalyst

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

A good IP response Luigi - well done!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

So pleased this resonates with you, Claudine,

Luigi x

P.S. My grateful thanks for the cherries.

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Just goes to show, don't pay the ferryman!

What are Stoats? Good work! Nolan &

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

'Stoat' is an alias  I have used to describe the unscrupulous organisers of illegal boat trips.

 

Submitted by Nolan on

If you say so

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I have said so, but you can choose a different denomination.

Cheers.

 

Submitted by Nolan on

But what happened to the piggy's ring? “Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will"

Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Nolan &

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Dear Nolan, this is a piece written in response to this week's Inspiration Point which asked us to take a fairy or folk tale and put it firmly into the 21st century; in other words to reflect current events. It is not an adaptation of the original work. 

 

Submitted by Nolan on

I thought so, but what is "Stoats"?

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

'Stoat' is an alias  I have used to describe the unscrupulous organisers of illegal boat trips.

Cheers and keep well.

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Sorry man, I thought it was a kind of beer.

Cheers! Nolan &&

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

That was a great use of the IP Luigi!

Nolan, if you read this, Stoats are a kind of mammal in the UK, they are smaller predators than foxes, and hunt voles and rabbits. Related to Weasels

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Thank you, Di. I assumed that the question was about the inclusion of a character that,, unlike the owl, the pussycat and the pig, was not in the original poem. I used poetic license to rhyme it with 'boat.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

A delightful take on the Edward Lear poem Luigi, and I liked how you kept the essence but brought it up to date with the channel crossings. 

Dougie Moody

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Dougie. I am glad you liked the way I tackled the subject. I immediately saw the correlation between the sea travel of the owl and the pussycat in Lear's poem and the perilous channel crossings that put hundreds of lives at risk. Many thanks for your feedback.

Best, Luigi