Fun Bible-based poems for reading and sharing, featuring that old cat sat on the mat.
An extract from the book
The Cat Appears
The thing looked worried, sat on the mat,
He didn’t quite know where he was at,
He’d just appeared with a flash and a blam,
One minute nothing and the next - shazam!
A figure stood there and scratched his head,
‘I wonder what you are,’ the figure said.
‘Maybe you’re a pig or maybe you’re a dog,
Maybe a giraffe or maybe you’re a frog,
Maybe you’re an ant, or a very small giraffe,
Or perhaps a hyena with a howling laugh.
Or maybe a chimp or a vampire bat,
Ah no − I’ve got it − you’re a cat on a mat!’
The figure said, ‘I’m Adam, and you’re as soft as silk.
So welcome to the world, would you like a bowl of milk?
I’m naming all the animals, can you believe that?’
The cat just purred and flopped across the mat.
Genesis 2 vv 15-20
The Cat and Creation
The cat lay dozing on the mat,
Wondering if the world was flat,
But when she woke up she soon found,
That in fact the world was round.
She dozed again and dreamt of the day
A voice called out and without delay
The world was born, a bright green planet,
Fashioned by the one who began it.
He made a ball, at a great big height,
Lit a match and set it alight.
Called it the sun and then made the moon,
All in good time, not a tad too soon.
Fish and birds hatched, flying and swimming,
The place was alive, bubbling and brimming.
The stars were like fireworks, zapping and whizzing,
And creatures popped out as life was fizzing.
Insects buzzed and flowers bloomed,
Dogs chased tails and cheetahs zoomed.
Frogs went ribbit and lions roared,
Snails left trails and sloths looked bored.
The fish and birds caught the eye of the cat,
But she behaved and stayed on the mat,
Creation’s ovation played on and on,
While the angels sang their joyous song.
When the cat woke up, the dream was real,
The world was full of life and zeal,
She sat up for a second, full of wonder at that,
And then rolled over and snoozed on her mat.
Genesis chapter 1 & Job chapter 38
The Cat and the Ark
Katrina the cat sat on the mat,
Not far away from Colin the cat.
They were both happily sat on a mat,
Near a pony called Tony who was wearing a hat.
Not far away was a pig called Pete,
And Charlie the chimp on a comfy seat,
Franz the fly and Cilla the snake,
Buzzed and hissed as they ate some cake.
Brian the snail slithered in a pale,
And Zoe the zebra munched some kale.
Camilla the camel wearily sighed
And refused to give Cyril the sloth a ride.
Fenella the frog snoozed on a log,
Near Herbie the hog and Davy the dog.
They were in a queue − not for the loo,
But to get on a boat, two by two.
A man called Noah had given them a call,
Texted them and told them all
To come for a ride on his very big ark,
Whether they could squeak, or oink, or bark.
So all of the creatures were waiting for that.
Along with Katrina, the cat on the mat.
Genesis 6 vv 11-22
The Cat on Joseph
The cat sat on the prison mat,
Watching the lives of the prisoners that
Were jailed by Pharaoh, doing their time,
Even though some of them had done no crime.
Just then his favourite prisoner went by,
Stopped with some milk and a cheerful ‘Hi!’
The young man went on doing his chores,
When suddenly a servant burst through the doors.
The King's best man came blustering down,
‘I've been sent for Joseph, is he around?
The king’s had a dream, and he's not too happy,
He dreamt about cows, and it's made him all flappy!
He saw seven fat cows, looking rather glad,
Then seven thin cows, looking rather bad.
The fat cows were suddenly wearing a frown,
As the thin cows started wolfing them down!
It's left him confused about what it means,
And his butler said Joe is savvy with dreams.’
So the cat left his mat and followed Joe,
As they got him cleaned up so that he could go,
All spruced up and sprayed with Lynx,
Past the pyramids and the giant Sphinx.
All the way to Pharaoh sat on his throne,
Looking all miserable, sitting there alone.
‘They say young man, you know about dreams,’
He boomed at Joe, ‘So tell me what it means!’
Joseph prayed, and he suddenly knew,
What the dream meant and what they should do.
‘The full fat cows and the scrawny ones mean,
Seven years of plenty and seven years of lean.’
Joseph said, ‘You need a really good man,
Who can run one great big foodbank plan.’
And Pharaoh said, as Joseph gave a bow,
‘I think I’m looking at that man right now.’
So if you want to know about the foodbank scheme,
And how young Joe cracked Pharaoh’s dream,
Genesis 41 - that’s where it’s at,
And if you need the cat he’ll be sat on the mat.
Genesis 41 vv 8-40
The Cat in Emmaus
The cat on the mat cocked an ear,
At last the couple were finally here,
The door burst open and before his eyes,
Was a man he didn’t recognise.
The couple followed behind and said,
‘Come to the table, let’s break some bread.’
The cat brushed against them for something too,
But nobody came to his rescue.
They didn’t seem to know the new man’s name,
Yet they were chatting away all the same,
About history and heroes from the Good Book,
The cat played dead but no one gave a look.
The man took the bread and broke it in three,
And their eyes burst wide so suddenly,
They tried to speak, jaws flapping all the time,
But whatever it was they could only mime.
The cat went back to sit on the floor,
But when he turned round, the man was no more,
Whoosh he’d gone − he was nowhere at all,
But he hadn’t smashed through the roof or the wall.
The bread was there still split in three,
The couple were amazed and looking happy.
Oh no, they jumped up and left him there,
Left the cat on the mat, it just wasn’t fair.
They were bursting with talk about the man,
They knew his name, and now had a plan.
But the cat on the mat was left flicking his ear,
Wondering how a man could disappear.
(Later the cat left the mat for the table,
Enjoyed the food while he was able.)
Luke 24 vv 13-34
The Cat and the Scared Disciples
The cat on the mat sat on the floor,
And nobody heard the sound of the door,
Because the door didn’t open at all,
He just slipped quietly through the wall.
As you are no doubt able to do,
When you’ve been through what he’s been through.
So here he was, suddenly there,
And all they could do was gape and stare.
Their jaws flapping open wide −
How was he here? Alive and inside?
‘I bring you peace,’ he smiled and said,
But they looked scared and worried instead.
‘Don’t panic, I’m not a ghost stood here,
I’m really alive, you don’t need to fear.
Ghosts don’t eat, I’d love some food,’
But nobody stirred or blinked or moved.
‘How about something on a dish?’
Their mouths just bobbed like goldfish.
‘Could I please have something to eat?’
But none of them moved their startled feet.
‘Any fish or bread at hand?’
All they could do was stare and stand.
Maybe he thought he should make his own dough,
Like when he fed thousands a while ago.
At last someone moved, became undead,
‘I’ll get some fish,’ young Andrew said.
And so he ate, and they gathered close,
It was really true, he wasn’t a ghost.
He was alive and well, enjoying this dish,
And the cat on the mat liked the look of the fish.
Luke 24 vv 35-43
