The Owl and the Pussy-cat
Edward Lear's poem, published in 1871, is about two unlikely sweethearts: an elegant owl and a beautiful cat. Lear is known for his light-hearted and playful poetry, beloved by readers of all ages.
Edward Lear’s The Owl and the Pussy-cat
Freely translated into French by Francis Steegmuller, with illustrations by Monique-Alika Watteau.
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"
Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing!
Oh! Let us be married; too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose.
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
You ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
The beautiful illustrations in the French translation demonstrate the intricate details of both animals and their surroundings throughout the joyous poem. Watteau's drawings help highlight the themes of the poem: love, marriage, and harmony. The poem symbolises the harmony and coexistence of the different animals and the ones who helped them on their journey. The presentation is seamlessly smooth to ensure the poem remained a children's classic.
Cassandra's Owl design takes inspiration from this poem and an ornate owl pendant where she loved the underlying outline. The deeply recessed eyes framing the beak emphasises the sense of 'wise owl'.
Read more
Denim - A Distinctly French Heritage
Denim is believed to have French heritage because of the fabric manufacturing in Nîmes and the dye used from Genoa (“Gênes”). Cassandra Goad's jewellery designs in the latest La Belle France collec...
Read more
Sculpting Poetry with Valentine Herrenschmidt
Discover Valentine Herrenschmidt, sculptor calligrapher extraordinaire. From wire sculptures to Picasso-inspired jewellery, her unique art transforms words into three dimensional masterpieces. Expl...
Read more