Illustration from children's book, written by Jocelyn Hedley, 'The Rose of Tashkent'.

One day as she stood with her basket of wares
A feline approached amidst whispers and stares.
He was strangely bedecked in a turban of blue
And bright precious stones adorned each pointed shoe.

"Miss Brown", said the cat and he bowed his fine head,
"But where have I seen a rose quite as red
As that which you hold in your paw even now?
Pray tell me, Madame, so exquisite, but how?"

Miss Brown blushed as bright as her sweet-smelling rose
From the end of her tail to the tip of her nose.
"It isn't so hard to get colours as this.
Why, all should be lovely - unless something's amiss!"