Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WOMAN AND CAT, by PAUL VERLAINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WOMAN AND CAT, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: They were just playing, lady and cat
Last Line: Four dazzling points of phosphor gleamed
Subject(s): Animals; Cats; Crime & Criminals; Murder; Nails (body)


They were just playing, lady and cat,
Their sport was a marvelous sight:
White hand, white paw, tit-for-tat,
In the shadow of gathering night.


She tried to conceal (to little avail)
Beneath gloves of the finest black net
A set of deadly agate-hard nails
Honed sharper than razors can whet.


And sweet as sugar, or so it seemed,
The other tucked claws away too;
But let's give the devil, as ever, his due . . .


And suddenly in the boudoir, where
A froth of laughter had filled the air,
Four dazzling points of phosphor gleamed.






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