‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ is perhaps the best known poem about an owl. It was written and illustrated in 1871 by Edward Lear who was famous for his nonsense poems and funny limericks (scroll down for limericks).

I

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea

In a beautiful pea-green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money,

Wrapped up in a five pound note.

–

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sang to a small guitar,

‘O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,

What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are,

What a beautiful Pussy you are.’

II

Pussy said to the Owl, ‘You elegant fowl,

How charmingly sweet you sing.

O let us be married, too long we have tarried;

But what shall we do for a ring?’

They sailed away, for a year and a day,

To the land where the Bong-tree grows,

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood

With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose,

With a ring at the end of his nose.

III

‘Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?’

Said the Piggy, ‘I will.’

So they took it away, and were married next day

By the Turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince, and slices of quince,

Which they ate with a runcible spoon;

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,

They danced by the light of the moon, the moon,

They danced by the light of the moon.

Poem and illustrations by Edward Lear (1812 – 1888)

Do you know any more Owl Poems? Can you make up an Owl poem or a funny rhyme or limerick?

Send your poems and rhymes to info@barnowltrust.org.uk or post to: The Barn Owl Trust, Waterleat, Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7HU

We put our favourite original poems into our Gallery!