Read the poem.

My Cat

A bump of black and white

Is purring in my bed.

And later on at night

I find him near my head.

The pillow quakes and quivers

Like pudding on a plate.

He wakes me up at midnight.

I sure hope he sleeps late!


How does the poem’s meter affect its tone?

The poem’s basic and reliable meter maintains a light, happy tone.

The meter is like a ticking clock, expressing frustration because the cat is keeping the the speaker awake.

The meter is intricate, expressing anxiety about losing sleep.

The poem’s simple, plodding meter suggests how tired the speaker is.