ICSE Treasure Chest: Skimbleshanks by T.S. Eliot

The ICSE Treasure Chest is a collection of poems curated for students in ICSE Class 9 (2025 Batch). One of the standout poems from the collection is "Skimbleshanks" by T.S. Eliot. The poem tells the story of a railway cat who keeps the Northern Mail train running smoothly by supervising everything from the driver and guards to the bagmen playing cards, and ensuring that nothing goes wrong on the journey. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem, review a short summary and solve some MCQs for practice.

Poem

There's a whisper down the line at 11.39
When the Night Mail's ready to depart,
Saying "Skimble where is Skimble has he gone to hunt the thimble?
We must find him or the train can't start."
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster's daughters
They are searching high and low,
Saying "Skimble where is Skimble for unless he's very nimble
Then the Night Mail just can't go."
At 11.42 then the signal's nearly due
And the passengers are frantic to a man—

Then Skimble will appear and he'll saunter to the rear:
He's been busy in the luggage van!
He gives one flash of his glassgreen eyes
And the signal goes "All Clear!"
And we're off at last for the northern part
Of the Northern Hemisphere!

You may say that by and large it is Skimble who's in charge
Of the Sleeping Car Express.
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing cards
He will supervise them all, more or less.
Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
Of the travellers in the First and the Third;
He establishes control by a regular patrol
And he'd know at once if anything occurred.
He will watch you without winking and he sees what you are thinking
And it's certain that he doesn't approve
Of hilarity and riot, so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on the move.
You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks!
He's a Cat that cannot be ignored;
So nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks is aboard.

Oh, it's very pleasant when you have found your little den
With your name written up on the door.
And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet
And there's not a speck of dust on the floor.
There is every sort of lightyou can make it dark or bright;
There's a handle that you turn to make a breeze.
There's a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in
And a crank to shut the window if you sneeze.
Then the guard looks in politely and will ask you very brightly
"Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?"
But Skimble's just behind him and was ready to remind him,
For Skimble won't let anything go wrong.
And when you creep into your cosy berth
And pull up the counterpane,
You ought to reflect that it's very nice
To know that you won't be bothered by mice—
You can leave all that to the Railway Cat,
The Cat of the Railway Train!

In the watches of the night he is always fresh and bright;
Every now and then he has a cup of tea
With perhaps a drop of Scotch while he's keeping on the watch,
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea.
You were fast asleep at Crewe and so you never knew
That he was walking up and down the station;
You were sleeping all the while he was busy at Carlisle,
Where he greets the stationmaster with elation.
But you saw him at Dumfries, where he speaks to the police
If there's anything they ought to know about:
When you get to Gallowgate there you do not have to wait—
For Skimbleshanks will help you to get out!
He gives you a wave of his long brown tail
Which says: "I'll see you again!
You'll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
The Cat of the Railway Train."

Summary

The poem "Skimbleshanks" by T.S. Eliot is a humorous and whimsical ode to a railway cat named Skimbleshanks. The poem describes the cat's role as supervisor of the Northern Mail train, ensuring that everything runs smoothly from the driver and guards to the passengers. The cat is described as being in charge of the Sleeping Car Express, and is able to control and monitor the passengers' behavior through his regular patrols. Skimbleshanks is also described as being able to anticipate and prevent problems on the train, and is able to take care of any issues that may arise, such as mice in the passenger's sleeping car. The poem concludes by describing the cat's ability to greet and help passengers at different train stations, and his ability to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for all.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What is Skimbleshanks's role on the Northern Mail train?

a) Driver
b) Guard
c) Supervisor
d) Passenger

2. How does Skimbleshanks control the behavior of the passengers?

3. What does Skimbleshanks do when he sees something wrong on the train?

4. How does Skimbleshanks keep the sleeping car clean?

5. How does Skimbleshanks help passengers at different train stations?

a) By giving them a wave of his tail
b) By giving them directions
c) By giving them a ride
d) By ignoring them

Answers

1. c) Supervisor
2. c) By a regular patrol
3. c) Takes care of it
4. c) By keeping the mice away
5. a) By giving them a wave of his tail