September 26, 1940

Here is "The Cat:"


Within that porch, across the way,
I see two naked eyes this night;
Two eyes that neither shut nor blink
Searching my face with a green light.


But cats to me are strange, so strange --
I cannot sleep if one is near;
And though I'm sure I see those eyes,
I'm not so sure a body's there!

This verse first appeared in the Westminster Gazette, and we found it reprinted in Littell's Living Age (1919).


The author is W. H. Davies, (July 3, 1871 to September 26, 1940) . That  name sounds familiar, but perhaps without much detail. Here is a brief biographical bit:

William Henry Davies was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. His father was, at the time a Publican. He was brought up by his grandparents in The Church House inn. After an apprenticeship as a picture-frame maker and a series of labouring jobs, he travelled to America, first to New York and then to the Klondike.

He returned to England [when] after an accident whilst jumping a train in Canada, he lost a foot. Upon his return to Britain he led a poor, hard life living in London lodging houses and as a pedlar in the country. He married in 1923, Helen, who was much younger than he. His first poems were published when he was 34.

Most of his poetry is on the subject of nature or life on the road and exhibits a natural simple, earthy style. He also wrote two novels and autobiographical works, his best known being Autobiography of a Super-Tramp .

The notes above do not stress how very popular and successful Davies did become by 1911 when he was given a pension by the British government.