Old Deuteronomy

Old Deuteronomy?
I believe it is Old Deuteronomy.
Well, of all things can it be really?
Yes! No! Ho! Hi! Oh, my eye!
My mind may be wandering, but I confess
I believe it is Old Deuteronomy

Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time

He's a cat who has lived many lives in succession

He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme

A long while before Queen Victoria's accession

 

Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives

And more; I am tempted to say ninety-nine

And his numerous progeny prospers and thrives

And the village is proud of him in his decline

 

At the sight of that placid and bland physiognomy

When he sits in the sun on the Vicarage wall

The oldest inhabitant croaks:

 

Well of all things

Can it be really?

Yes! No! Ho! Hi! Oh, my eye!

My mind may be wandering but I confess

I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!

 

Old Deuteronomy sits in the street,

He sits in the High Street on Market Day

The bullocks may bellow, the sheep they may bleat

But the dogs and the herdsmen will turn them away

 

The cars and the lorries run over the kerb

And the villagers put up a notice 'Road Closed'

So that nothing untoward may chance to disturb

Deuteronomy's rest when he feels so disposed.

 

The digestive response of that feline's gastronomy

Must never be broken, whatever befall

And the oldest inhabitant croaks:

 

"Well of all things

Can it be really?

Yes...no...ho hi oh my eye

My legs may be tottery

My mind may be wandering but I confess

I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!"

 

Well of all things

Can it be really?

Yes! No! Ho! Hi! Oh my eye!

 

My legs may be tottery

I must go slow

And be careful of Old Deuteronomy!