'The Barrow Boy'

Original Illustration with Poem – by Emily Woodard

This is the original hand-drawn illustration created to accompany a poem written and illustrated by Emily Woodard. A delicate and expressive piece, it’s rendered in ink and watercolour on high-quality paper.

• Medium: Ink and watercolour on paper

• Size: A3 (29.7 x 42 cm / 11.7 x 16.5 inches)

• Details: Signed by the artist

Poem by Emily Woodard

In the misty dawn, when the streets are still,

A barrow boy prowls with a hunter's will.

But this barrow boy  is furry and fat,

For he’s not a boy—he’s a cunning cat.

With whiskers twitching, he creeps through the fog,

 In search of his prey: mice, rats, and frogs.

 His barrow creaks as he gathers his load

A curious cargo, that’s topped with a toad.

In the afternoon, when the sun is high,

He lights up his stove with a gleam in his eye.

With a large wooden spoon a broth he does stir,

The bubbles rise up and are laced with fur.

Mice in the pot, frogs in the stew,

A dash of rat for a flavour so true.

The scent in the air is rich and obscene,

But to him, it's a feast, it’s a cat’s cuisine.