To the Superior Animal, Anna Laetitia Waring was a Welsh-born poet known primarily for her hymn writing who came from a literary family background, with both her father Elijah and her Uncle Samuel having had works of literature published.She was a studious young woman who learned Hebrew for the sole purpose of being able to read the Old Testament in its original form. She always considered all kinds of verse writing as a “pleasant diversion”. Her books of hymns were popular, with the first collection Hymns and Meditations, by A. L. W., running to some ten separate editions.
To the Superior Animal by Anna Laetitia Waring
To the Superior Animal
To sum up all, I’m old — and that’s
A fact the years decide;
It is a common thing with cats
And not a thing to hide.
But to feel what it is — how kind
How true to love and law
For this you must be quite resigned
And not avoid its paw.
It does not come as reckless foe
A shrinking prey to take,
But with soft footstep that we know
By comfort in its wake.
Though it spoils something — that is true,
Which we must learn to lack
And takes alike from me and you
What never does come back.
It caters for our failing strength
In many a dainty scrap,
And gently lays us at our length
In some secluded lap.
It may bless you — (I think it should)
Beyond what I make out,
With things perhaps too great and good
For cats to talk about.
Since I find in it blessing free
From all it can destroy,
And so its progress is to me
A miracle of joy.
But my look out to occupy
And make the most of that.
You must be quite as old as I,
If not yourself a Cat!
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