LOVING
HEARTS - stories of trust and loyalty.
CATSEYE
"Watch," said the witch unto her cat
"Watch and wait till I be back.
I be going down the hill
Folk have need of witch's skill."
Catseye, catseye, green as glass
Tens of scores of years do pass.
The cat sat down with folded paws
The cat sat down and watched the door
Sunrise came - the witch did not
The fire went out beneath the pot.
Catseye, catseye, green as glass
Tens of scores of years do pass.
Daylight faded, daylight died
Sunset flared across the sky
Stars and moon uncaring came
Cat with watchful eyes remained
Catseye, catseye, green as glass
Tens of scores of years do pass.
A plague had come and struck and killed
Since the witch went down the hill
The village crumbled, turned to grass
Tens of scores of years did pass
Catseye, catseye, green as glass
Tens of scores of years do pass.
Trees grow tall across the way
That once led to the witch's cave
But - "Watch," said the witch unto her cat.
"Watch and wait till I be back."
Catseye, catseye, green as glass
Tens of scores of years do pass.
So sleepless, ageless, waits the cat
For his mistress to come back
Summer sun dissolves in rain
He watches till she comes again
Catseye, catseye, green as glass
Tens of scores of years do pass.
When will Catseye's vigil end?
To reunite him with his friend?
When the earth grows tired and still -
Perhaps-
The witch will climb the hill.
Catseye, catseye, green as glass
Tens of scores of years have passed.
Copyright Sally Odgers 1985.
I wrote "Catseye" for a collection published by Omnibus
Books. It has always been one of my favourites of my own poems, but I was never
quite happy with the last verse. I've fixed it now - sixteen years after the
poem was written.
