Help with an old poem, please!

Hello everyone
I've been searching for this poem for a few years and am actually really emotional that I found this page (and I signed up so I could say thank you!)
I'm 'only' 41 and learnt this poem in about 1990 in primary school. We were asked to learn by heart a verse of any poem we liked and I found this one in a huge red backed, very old book that my mum had. She had a cat called Smut growing up in the 1940s, 50s and so it felt right to choose this one. I was only meant to learn one verse but I loved it so much, I learnt it all. I think it ignited my love for poetry so I'm thrilled that I can see it all again. Thank you! I hope this page will be useful for any others looking for the poem about Oir Cat Smut!

It sounds like your husband is caught in a nostalgic mystery! Sometimes poems like that can be hard to track down, especially when Google results take a humorous turn. Maybe try reaching out on poetry forums or social media groups—someone might recognize it. Hope you both crack the case soon!

Well it looks as if Cattery has found it
Well done

It was published in an Australian school magazine in 1917 and stored in the archive.
nla.gov.au/nla.obj-773557348/view?sectionId=nla.obj-822517775&partId=nla.obj-773603049#page/n5/mode/1up
I took a screenshot too.

What good detectives are you all! Well done.

You never know what treasure you will find in a used book store. I found a copy of a much loved children's novel by Mary Calhoun called Katie John, published in 1960.

There were a series of the Katie John character, which I read and re-read from the local library when I was a child. I was happy to find a copy! I should pull it out for my granddaughter, but the book is not in the greatest condition. Perhaps one we could read together.

Well done grans!

Reading with a grandchild is one of the greatest gifts you can give them,CanadianGran - especially from a book you yourself enjoyed as a child.

This post is over nine years old!

But it’s a nice post as the Poem was found.

Google is your friend.

SMUT.

Oh, I wish that you had seen him,

Our little pussy cat.

He came so skinny, scrag, and lean,

And went away so fat !

They said he stole the food and things ;

Perhaps he did so, but

He really couldn’t help it —couldn’t Smut.

He walked upon the dresser shelf

And knocked down mother’s jugs,

Broke half a dozen dinner plates,

And Kate’s and Molly’s mugs.

I guess he thought he heard a mouse ;

He didn’t catch it, but

He really couldn’t help it —couldn’t Smut.

He tore up half the leather chairs,

They bought a set to match,

And just to show he noticed it

He marked them with a scratch.

Then Father, he got very mad ;

It was annoying, but

He really couldn’t help it—couldn’t Smut.

So of fellowship and feelings, too,

We made a sacrifice,

And gave him to a farmer man

To catch his rats and mice.

We wept to lose our pussy cat ;

And he was sorry, but

We really couldn’t help it—could we, Smut ?