Over the years, my husband and I have loved and lost many pets. But, until now, we never lost two beloved animals in one day.
This morning we said goodbye to 15-year-old Shadow and 21-year-old Elvis Pussley. Both had battled cancer for quite a while, and both went into a sudden decline about a week ago. This morning, death claimed them.
We still have several young, lively, sweet critters, so we won’t be petless. But there are two cat-shaped holes in my heart today.
In better times:
SEANCE ON A WET EVENING
Shadow and Elvis prowl, their gleaming eyes
Seeking the catfaced moon as if it were their prize.
Creeping, pouncing, crackling with cunning,
They are humbled now by death,
Their lithe long bodies running, running,
Running out of breath.
Gone yet not gone, so many tamewild creatures; every night
Into my restless dreams they come, whole and hale,
And as much mine as they ever were. With secondsight
I see my playful cats: an ambling tail
Flicking from side to side, stiff whiskers framing
A twitchturned nose, faces lit by flaming
Round eyes like golden buttons on a soft velvet shirt.
Love will not lie forever laden with stone and dirt.
Pets frolic sadly across my wet, green lawn,
And here on the porch I know
My sweet old kitties hear me whisper, low,
And I sense their familiar footfall on the roam
Many backyards away, but always heading home.
