March 4, 2009

"Lochi"


Oil on museum quality ampersand gessobord panel 6" x 8"

This little guy is named Lochi or is it Lockie? It is short for "Low Key."
How he would spell it is anyone's guess:


The naming of cats is a difficult matter
It isn't just one of your holiday games
You may think at first I'm mad as a hatter
When I tell you a cat must have three different names

First of all, there's the name that the family use daily
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James
Such as Victor or Jonathan, George or Bill Bailey
All of them are sensible, everyday names

But I tell you a cat needs a name that's particular
A name that's peculiar and more dignified
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular?
Or spread out his whiskers or cherish his pride?

Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo or Coricopat
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum
Names that never belong to more than one cat

But above and beyond there's still one name left over
And that is the name that you will never guess
The name that no human research can discover
But the cat himself knows and will never confess

When you notice a cat in profound meditation
The reason, I tell you, is always the same
His mind is engaged in rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name

His ineffable, effable, effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular name
Name, name, name, name, name, name

T.S. Elliott

7 comments:

Carol Nelson said...

Thank you for including T.S.Eliot's poem about cats names. I read it years ago and completely forgot how clever it is.

Mark Adams said...

Carol, I have five cats living with me now. Their favorite music to listen to in the studio is the Broadway musical "Cats"

Carol Nelson said...

You must have one named Mr. Mistopheles.

Mark Adams said...

Carol,

Not yet, but maybe someday. Bristol, our feral outside cat, was just neutered last week. The line "...and not long ago this remarkable cat produced seven kittens right out of a hat" could well have been her as she was carrying 7 fetuses when she was fixed, albeit very small ones, thank goodness.

Sadly, I am down to 4 indoor cats. I had to put Anna, my 18 year old Siamese, down yesterday. Not a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

....... said...

There is something special about having a cat about. Do you know the saying "A dog has a master, however, a cat has staff"? Tis true you know, and I have known the pleasures of being staff to a couple of very special cats in my day.

....... said...

There is something special about having a cat about. Do you know the saying "A dog has a master, however, a cat has staff"? Tis true you know, and I have known the pleasures of being staff to a couple of very special cats in my day.

Mark Adams said...

Very true, Susan. My guys have me well trained.