He is described as a watchful and attentive train guard who is always ready to act and solve problems that arise during the journey. The poem highlights the punctuality and attentiveness of Skimbleshanks to his tasks and highlights his unwavering dedication to his work. Skimbleshanks is responsible for maintaining order and discipline among the railway workers, and his presence brings a sense of security and credibility to the passengers. The poem describes Skimbleshanks as a clever and diligent cat who keeps the train running smoothly. Eliot, presents the life of an industrious and indispensable cat who works on the railway. You’ll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail He gives you a wave of his long brown tail When you get to Gallowgate there you do not have to wait-įor Skimbleshanks will help you to get out! If there’s anything they ought to know about: Where he greets the stationmaster with elation.īut you saw him at Dumfries, where he speaks to the police You were sleeping all the while he was busy at Carlisle, That he was walking up and down the station You were fast asleep at Crewe and so you never knew Only stopping here and there to catch a flea. With perhaps a drop of Scotch while he’s keeping on the watch, In the watches of the night he is always fresh and bright You can leave all that to the Railway Cat, To know that you won’t be bothered by mice. “Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?”īut Skimble’s just behind him and was ready to remind him, Then the guard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly There’s a funny little basin you’re supposed to wash your face inĪnd a crank to shut the window if you sneeze. There’s a handle that you turn to make a breeze. There is every sort of light-you can make it dark or bright Oh, it’s very pleasant when you have found your little denĪnd the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheetĪnd there’s not a speck of dust on the floor. So nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks! Of hilarity and riot, so the folk are very quiet He will watch you without winking and he sees what you are thinking He establishes control by a regular patrolĪnd he’d know at once if anything occurred. Of the travellers in the First and the Third He will supervise them all, more or less.ĭown the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
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You may say that by and large it is Skimble who’s in chargeįrom the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards He gives one flash of his glass-green eyesĪnd we’re off at last for the northern part Then Skimble will appear and he’ll saunter to the rear: Saying “Skimble where is Skimble for unless he’s very nimble We must find him or the train can’t start.”Īll the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster’s daughters Saying “Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble? In addition to giving the passengers a sense of security and credibility, Skimbleshanks is in charge of preserving order and discipline among the railway staff. Skimbleshanks is portrayed in the poem as a cunning and obedient cat who keeps the train moving smoothly. Eliot as part of his collection The Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. “Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” is a whimsical and delightful poem written by T.S.
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