THE GINGHAM DOG AND THE CALICO CAT

Substitute Democrat and Republican, especially the Republicans, and this is a perfect description of how the political climate has changed since the last two election cycles.  

(picture from the web)

The gingham dog and the calico cat  

Side by side on the table sat.

T’was half past twelve and (what do you think!)

Nor one nor t’other had slept a wink!

The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate

Appeared to know as sure as fate

There was going to be a terrible spat

(I wasn’t there; I simply state

What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went “Bow-wow-wow!”

And the calico cat replied “Mee-ow!)

The air was littered, an hour or so,

With bits of gingham and calico,

While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place

Up with its hands before its face,

For it always dreaded a family row!

(Now mind: I’m only telling you

What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,

And wailed, “Oh, dear! What shall we do!)

But the gingham dog and the calico cat

Walled this way and tumbled that,

Employing every tooth and claw

In the awfulest way you ever saw—

And oh, how the gingham and calico flew!

(don’t fancy I exaggerate—I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning, where the two had sat

They found no trace of dog or cat;

And some folks think unto this day

That burglars stole that pair away!

But the truth about that cat and pup

Is this: they ate each other up!

Now what do you really thing of that!

(the old Dutch clock it told me so,

And this is how I came to know.)

The gingham dog and the calico cat  

Side by side on the table sat.

T’was half past twelve and (what do you think!)

Nor one nor t’other had slept a wink!

The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate

Appeared to know as sure as fate

There was going to be a terrible spat

(I wasn’t there; I simply state

What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went “Bow-wow-wow!”

And the calico cat replied “Mee-ow!)

The air was littered, an hour or so,

With bits of gingham and calico,

While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place

Up with its hands before its face,

For it always dreaded a family row!

(Now mind: I’m only telling you

What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,

And wailed, “Oh, dear! What shall we do!)

But the gingham dog and the calico cat

Walled this way and tumbled that,

Employing every tooth and claw

In the awfulest way you ever saw—

And oh, how the gingham and calico flew!

(don’t fancy I exaggerate—I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning, where the two had sat

They found no trace of dog or cat;

And some folks think unto this day

That burglars stole that pair away!

But the truth about that cat and pup

Is this: they ate each other up!

Now what do you really thing of that!

(the old Dutch clock it told me so,

And this is how I came to know.)

By Eugene Field