It’s May 12, 2012—International Owl & Pussycat Day!
In honor of the 200th birthday of Edward Lear,
renowned for his Nonsense Poems, the UK is celebrating the day with limericks,
recitations of his poems, and discussions of his life and works.
He is far less known for his landscapes paintings, done from
his travels through Greece and the Near East, and for his ornithological
studies that were declared to rival those of Audubon.
I fell in love with his nonsense verse with their
accompanying nonsensical illustrations as a child. Coming from a rather serious family I was
stunned and delighted that anyone, no less an adult, was allowed to be so
silly—on purpose.
And he loved cats. His beloved fuzzy Foss, lived to be 15
years old. His sorrow at his passing can only be imagined, for he himself died a
mere 2 months later.
No doubt he would be surprised and amused to be celebrated
internationally.
Cheers, Mr. Lear! Thanks for being silly and making serious
nonsense!
