For a VeryYoung Scholar
by Marc Mangel
The waves ceased their crashing sound
the tide had gone out
and silence all around.
We stood above and looked below
to rocky beaches with little
pools that slowly flow.
And suddenly she spied a cat
that slowly made its way
between the crags and water to a spot
where others sat.
“That must be a sand cat”
she shouted with delight and glee
and turning
gave a hug to me.
“Indeed, indeed, it must be, yes”
said I
but snickered — thinking of
a child’s guess.
Months have passed since the visit to the bay
and seeing the cat on that day
And then last night we played with cards
that hold upon them animals and names
some little known
and some of fame.
She pulled a card and showed to me
“Look, this is a sand cat”
“And this is a regular cat”
In stunned silence I took the card
for I just had to see.
Indeed, indeed, oh yes, oh yes
there are such things as sand cats
it was not just a lucky guess.
But wait now
for on the back of the card
there are facts about the cat
so one can read and
learn to wow
So I read the facts about the sand cat
and my surprise is only greater
the old sand cat may be slow and fat
and white as we saw
But the sand cat is not found by the by
neither night nor day
rather if one ways to find a sand cat
he must such the desert.
4 March 1983