Whiskers

I carried her in my arms,

her weight no different than before

 and when I look back now,

it seemed to me that I glided along the blades of grass,

one by one, and try as I might,

 I could no more slow myself down than I could turn back time.

 The warmth of the sun encouraged a mourner's dirge

 played out in perfect time by the cicadas along with the accompaniment of Eli,

 his usual crow replaced with a woeful lament.

 It did not remain unnoticed, on this bright summer afternoon, 

that the loss felt heavy on the heart of every living being at this old farmhouse.

We lost Whiskers on Monday and as I carried her out past the pond 

memories came crashing in around me.

 I could regale you with the stories of Whiskers,

 how she came to be with us, first the male twin and I,

 then later the Artist and the girl twin too.

I could tell you how her first night with us she cried

 as story time was taking place upstairs

 and she was too little to climb up those tall steps by herself.

 I could tell you that she mastered those steps by the second night.

 And I could also tell you that by the third night,

she was waiting for us on the end of the bed,

ready for a bedtime story

and it remained that way for many, many years

 but all cats have their stories and all cats are special. 

The paw prints they leave on our hearts never fade.

 Most are fortunate enough to have a home where they are cared for and loved,

and even, with a stroke of good fortune, be adored. She certainly was.

She rests now, beyond the pond where the sun will awaken her spirit each morning,

 and tuck her in with the prettiest blanket of colours each night.

Our hearts are heavy

 but we are ever grateful for the chance to love and be loved in return,

 for in these short lives of ours, that is all that matters.

Godspeed Whisk

and

thanks for the love.



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And thank you, to new and old friends
who visited from Misha's blog
your messages have been a real comfort.


And to Misha ~
dear sweet Misha~
your friendship means the world to me.
Thank you for being you.