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Rum N Raisin

Two little kittens; he’s Rum and she’s Raisin
Lived in a house near the zoo.
Rum asked his friend, “Would it not be amazing
to go catch a mouse or a shrew?”

Raisin said, “Rum, we should not be so meek
for we can do better than that.
Something with fangs or a long pointed beak
is a much braver task for a cat.”

Rum laughed aloud and then he meowed,
“We are only kittens,” he said.
Raisin said, “Kittens must always be proud;
to be cats is the reason we’re bred.”

They knew there were mice that lived under the floor
And rats that lived inside the shed.
They’ve never caught either, they’ve tried it before
They’ll catch something bigger instead.

Raisin said, “What we need now is a plan,”
and then started licking her paw.
Rum said, “Our food always comes from a can.”
And Raisin said, “Not anymore.”

And then she said, “Tigers and lions and bears
all live right there in the zoo.
If we can catch something that no one else dares
it’s tea time for me and for you.”

They leapt from the window and onto the shed
And Raisin said, “Head for the street.”
They had to jump into the vegetable bed
But cats always land on their feet.

Soon Rum and Raisin arrived at the zoo
They hid in a long grassy thicket
They crawled to the gate and they quickly ran through
For cats have no cash for a ticket.

They entered the cage of the hairy anteaters
Who kicked up a hullabaloo.
And one of them said, “Would you really eat us,
when we wouldn’t want to eat you?”

Rum said, “He seemed a nice fellow to me.”
And Raisin said, “Yes, I agree.
Let’s try the next creature and leave this one be
and find someone else for our tea.”

Then, at the pool, they jumped up on the wall
The penguins were eating their fish
One penguin said, “We will not eat it all,
we’re happy to share if you wish.”

Rum said, “She seemed very friendly to me.”
And Raisin said, “Yes, I agree.
Let’s try the next creature and leave this one be
And find someone else for our tea.”

Next was the monkey who said, “I’m so funky,”
and then did a quick somersault
Rum said, “We’re not having monkey for tea,
that monkey will never get caught.”

Rum said, “He seemed a bit crazy to me.”
And Raisin said, “Yes, I agree.
Let’s try the next creature and leave this one be
And find someone else for our tea.”

The Boa constrictor said, “If you say please,
I’d quite like to give you a hug.
Perhaps you would like me to give you a squeeze,”
he said with a grin that was smug.

Rum said, “He seemed a bit scary to me.”
And raisin said, “Yes, I agree.
Let’s try the next creature and leave this one be
And find someone else for our tea.”

Next, Rum and Raisin knew what would be fun 
They snuck up behind the hyenas.
Their plan for some fun was not a good one
And Raisin said, “Oh no, they’ve seen us.”

So Rum said, “That game wasn’t much of a laugh.”
And Raisin said, “Yes I agree.
We’ve made so much effort and yet I feel daft,
we still haven’t got any tea.”

And so they moved on and they searched for a lizard
They found a green scaly iguana
He said, “You can’t eat me unless you’re a wizard,
my moat is packed full of piranha.”

So Raisin said, “That’s just the way that it goes,
it seems like bad manners to me.”
Rum said, “Those fish might have nibbled our toes,
they would have had us for their tea.”

The next thing they saw was a large crocodile
But soon they went home on the bus
“Come round for dinner,” he’d said with a smile.
But Rum said, “Your dinner’s not us.”

Rum said, “His mouth was much bigger than us.”
And Raisin said, “Yes I agree.
I’m ever so glad we got home on that bus,
He’s not having us for his tea.”

Rum said, “I’m not good at being a cat,
the folk at the zoo were such fun.”
Raisin said, “Yes, there’s a problem with that,
For now we can’t eat ANYONE.”

Rum heard a squeak from a hole in the floor
A cheeky mouse poked out his tongue
Raisin said, “We don’t eat mice anymore.”
And the mouse said, “SO CHASE ME FOR FUN!”
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

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Radice Avatar
September 9, 2023 at 10:19 AM
I'm one of those people who have never seen 'Titanic' 'or The Shawshank Redemption'. I'm one of those people who have never been to The Grand National despite living not too far from where it's run and I'm one of those people who have never read any of Terry Flood's 'Rum n Raisin' installments..until now. :) I thought I best start at where it all started. Your work always makes me smile. This is great. I sense / suggest a book of these adventures. 'Fun' must be your middle name. Cheers - Gary
Flood Avatar
September 9, 2023 at 3:26 PM
I have to say I never anticipated that my efforts would share a ‘review’ with such lofty institutions. I’m chuffed that you took the time to track down R&R 1 and that you enjoyed it when you found it. Hmmm… Rum & Raisin do Shawshank????
Bauer Avatar
August 5, 2023 at 11:22 AM
Thank you for letting me know that I had missed this first installment of the Rum and Raisin tales, Terry! I’m so glad I went back and found it - absolutely delightful! It’s so much fun reading your poems - you could change a lot of people’s minds who think poetry is stuffy and old- fashioned…
Flood Avatar
August 5, 2023 at 3:05 PM
Sorry for the blatant self advertising but I thought if you liked RnR-2, you’d probably like this one too. I think writing is never better than when the words hit the page (screen) almost before you’re aware that you’ve thought them. This one was very much like that. A bit of tidying and tinkering but otherwise pretty well fully formed from square one.
Edmonds  Avatar
August 3, 2023 at 8:57 PM
Wonderful Terry, an amazing humorous write, love the Rum and Raisin adventures… Belle
Flood Avatar
August 4, 2023 at 2:40 PM
Thank-you, Belle. As you know, there is an RnR-2 but I also tried sending my kittens into space. Alas, that tale just wouldn’t gel… maybe everyone’s kind words will inspire me to revisit that unfinished adventure.
Proxenos Avatar
July 28, 2023 at 8:50 AM
I love your beautiful kitty's chatting , so cute Rum and Raisin are, but what are they going to do about tea - I think maybe they will get hungry and go to find mice under the floor and rats in the shed, instead of been hugged or squeezed by a boa constrictor, even a meal from a can would be better than that. Great write Terry, blessings galore Jennifer.
Flood Avatar
July 31, 2023 at 11:26 AM
Thank you, Jennifer. I expect, for now, they'll dine from a can… until they can hatch a new plan. Glad you enjoyed.
Mcintosh Avatar
July 26, 2023 at 12:22 PM
Absolutely adorable! I love it. God bless you!!! Love, Gina
Flood Avatar
July 26, 2023 at 4:28 PM
Thanks for reading this epic write, Regina, and thanks for sticking with it. So glad you enjoyed. Terry
Volumes Avatar
July 25, 2023 at 7:08 PM
Same as David, its time for lunch I imagined it would take me to afternoon tea to read all that, but I was intrigued by the antics of your two lil kats and you couldn't have stopped me reading if you paid me. great story Terry. Really enjoyed it. Cheers from Squeaky.
Flood Avatar
July 27, 2023 at 4:56 PM
Thanks, Speaky, a tale I’ve held back for some time, ‘to do something with’ but I know I never will. So your gain is the world’s loss, Ha ha!
Kavanagh  Avatar
July 23, 2023 at 9:24 AM
I have to admit Terry when I seen all the stanzas this one looked pretty intimidating, but as I read through all my doubts evaporated, it’s excellently written and very entertaining, Kids big ones included will love this one, cheers David
Flood Avatar
July 23, 2023 at 3:10 PM
I actually wrote this with those slim kids picture books in mind. Each stanza representing a page. I had intended to send it to a publisher for their perusal, but frankly, I know I’ll never get around to it. So, thanks for sticking with it, David. Glad you enjoyed.
Rodrigues Avatar
July 23, 2023 at 5:31 AM
First of all, Terry, I love the names you picked out for the cats. Loved the story…a fave! Happy Sunday, my friend!
Flood Avatar
July 23, 2023 at 3:11 PM
Thanks, Kim. I have to say that if I ever get two kittens, I suspect I know what I’m gonna call them. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the fave. Terry
Merryman Avatar
July 22, 2023 at 4:39 PM
Terry, you have a gift for story telling! Love this one! Blessings, Kim M
Flood Avatar
July 22, 2023 at 5:00 PM
You have the patience of a saint, Kim. Most people will skip this due to its length. Glad you enjoyed. Terry
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