We Always Know

(For Grandpa Mason)

We always know

That awful day will come

When we have to say goodbye.

But we try,

Oh, how we try

To pretend that day

Is ever so far away.

We watch faithfully

For the signs

We do not want to see.

Are you eating?

Can you walk?

Are you still happy?

Are you in pain?

Sometimes we stroke you

In your sleep,

To see if you are still breathing.

And when the signs

And the tests

And the numbers

Fail to add up to

"Quality of Life,"

All we can give you is our final gift -

A peaceful transition

Into the next world.

Thank you, Grandpa Mason.

Your life mattered.

From a Cat's Perspective

On my last day on earth

I paddled at and lapped clean water

I turned up my nose at freshly opened cans of Friskies

I peed in the vicinity of my litter box

I slept in a soft fleecy bed

I sang the song of my people

I spent time with my best friends

I gazed out my favorite window

I sat in the glorious sunshine

I sniffed the fresh breeze

I rambled through the greenery

I dawdled through a shallow puddle

I inspected the garage for trespassing rodents

And I almost caught the red dot

When my day came to a close

I went to sleep knowing that I was loved

By Siobhan:  Mighty Hunter, Leaf Bringer, Deer Scarer

August 15, 2001 - August 23, 2018

The Night Before Solstice

 

Twas the night before Solstice
When I and the cats
Had just settled down
For a long winter's nap

When out in the hallway
There arose such a clatter
Thunking and clunking
What on earth was the matter?

The cats were not with me
I found none in the house
Has they all scattered thither
In chase of a mouse?

I roared as I strode through
The doorways and halls
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What's doing on?"

The last door I yanked open
Revealed a surprise
Leto the kitten
With huge frightened eyes

His head was wedged firmly
Inside a glass jar
I don't even know
How he'd made it that far

In this airless prison
His doom was foretold
I had to act swiftly
I had to be bold

Left hand on the kitten
Right hand on the jar
I grabbed his neck tightly
And twisted the jar

I pulled and I pulled
With all of my might
And I freed my small friend
From his terrible plight

I calmed him and soothed him
And called him by name
"Oh Leto! Poor Leto!"
"You're all right again!"

His purr increased swiftly
And I swear he made clear
"Blessed Solstice to all!"
"I'm so glad I'm still here!"

 

Leto Bigfoot 2017

 

Cupid

Cupid, October 28, 2016 - January 4, 2017

The Night Before Solstice

Twas the night before Solstice
When I and the cats
Had just settled down
For a long winter's nap

When out in the hallway
There arose such a clatter
Thunking and clunking
What on earth was the matter?

The cats were not with me
I found none in the house
Has they all scattered thither
In chase of a mouse?

I roared as I strode through
The doorways and halls
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What's doing on?"

The last door I yanked open
Revealed a surprise
Leto the kitten
With huge frightened eyes

His head was wedged firmly
Inside a glass jar
I don't even know
How he'd made it that far

In this airless prison
His doom was foretold
I had to act swiftly
I had to be bold

Left hand on the kitten
Right hand on the jar
I grabbed his neck tightly
And twisted the jar

I pulled and I pulled
With all of my might
And I freed my small friend
From his terrible plight

I calmed him and soothed him
And called him by name
"Oh Leto! Poor Leto!"
"You're all right again!"

His purr increased swiftly
And I swear he made clear
"Blessed Solstice to all!"
"I'm so glad I'm still here!"

Big Boy Leto in a Little Box - 2016

The Seeker

Peter Ghostbuster, the Seeker

Where am I? 

Why am I here?

I do not think I am supposed to be here.

Not yet, not yet – it is too soon;

I am not ready.

I must return,

find my way back to the beginning.

I must start over.  Why am I here?

But first, inventory:

I am colorless.

I cannot see, I cannot hear;

but I have a voice,

and I have legs.

I must use everything I have been given

to find the way.

And what is here?

I feel softness and warmth, and something else.

It is love - a mighty love.

This mighty love seems to be coming at me

from all directions; it surrounds me, comforts me.

But I must not rest,

I must continue my quest.

I call out, “I am here!”

My small head quivers like a compass needle,

Seeking, seeking, seeking….

I am not sure what it is that I seek,

but I cannot find it.

Where is it?

What is it?

My limbs are weak,

but still I feel the compulsion to move.

I cannot, must not be contained.

Exhausted at last, I call out,

“Help me, help me! I am lost.”

My mom is worried;

she retrieves me and tries her best to soothe me.

The mighty love envelopes me.

Ahhh. 

 

I remember now – it is coming clear to me at last.

I was sent here on a very important mission.

A very brief mission, and somehow, somehow,

I have accomplished this mission.

I have done all I came here to do;

I have found the mighty love.

I am free now to return to my home in the stars.

Gratitude fills my heart.

I am home.

But you will see me again;

and you will recognize me.

I will be resplendent in my tabby pants.

The Night Before Solstice

  (Originally published December 2011) 

(Yeah, OK, I am gonna post this every year.....)

Twas the night before Solstice
When I and the cats
Had just settled down
For a long winter's nap

When out in the hallway
There arose such a clatter
Thunking and clunking
What on earth was the matter?

The cats were not with me
I found none in the house
Has they all scattered thither
In chase of a mouse?

I roared as I strode through
The doorways and halls
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What's going on?"

The last door I yanked open
Revealed a surprise
Leto the kitten
With huge frightened eyes

His head was wedged firmly
Inside a glass jar
I don't even know
How he'd made it that far

In this airless prison
His doom was foretold
I had to act swiftly
I had to be bold

Left hand on the kitten
Right hand on the jar
I grabbed his neck tightly
And twisted the jar

I pulled and I pulled
With all of my might
And I freed my small friend
From his terrible plight

I calmed him and soothed him
And called him by name
"Oh Leto! Poor Leto!"
"You're all right again!"

His purr increased swiftly
And I swear he made clear
"Blessed Solstice to all!"
"I'm so glad I'm still here!"

Leto says "Hi!" (October 2013)

The Space between Dhruga and Summer

The Space Between Dhruga and Summer

Dhruga the Watch Cat has been waiting

With patience eternal

Her tail flicks lazily

Luminous eyes blink slowly and

She purrs at a remembered caress

Dhruga has been waiting

With patience eternal

Others wait with her

But Dhruga is the Watch Cat

She must alert the rest………

“John!  Moonshine!  Puck!

She’s coming back to us!

Here she comes!  She’s here!

Pamela has come Home to us!”

There is a joyous reunion in Heaven

Laughter abounds, purring surrounds

Now Summer is the one who waits

In the window of his temporal home

Watching the familiar birds and squirrels

And waiting for his time of reunion