Short Poems
Forgive me if I weep - she was so sweet,
That little cat who scampered through the house,
Or curled asleep upon the window ledge,
Though still alert to stir of leaf or mouse.
But now she's gone, whose soft paw often touched
My cheek at the first glint of day;
Or with arched back, skipped through the room,
Enticing me to enter in her play.
Oh God, of little cats...my earnest please
Is that while things are strange to her
You may scratch her ears sometimes, let her chase
Celestial mice along the Milky Way.
Just for a little while until she finds
Some chosen spot upon the Outer Gate
When she is weary of her running, where she may
Curl in the sunshine, there to sleep...and wait.
~Author Unknown~
O gentle cat,
How shall I part with thee...
When you are not in my delighted eye!
How shall I eat when
You are not beside
To share a bit? How shall I ever sleep
While I no more your
lulling murmers hear?
~James Thomson, Scottish Poet (1706-1748)~
I am not there
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled light.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand by my grave and cry.
I am not there: I did not die.
~Anonymous~
High in the courts of Heaven today
A little cat bravely waits.
With all the others she will not play.
But sits alone at the gates.
"For some day my mistress will
come," says she
"And when she comes, she will
call for me."
~Anonymous~
Dancing Ribbons
Dancing ribbons pushed by time,
Float through an old kitten's dreams,
She chases them into eternity,
And catches them,
As they change into Angels'wings.
~Daryl Douglass Foyer, from Cat Fancy Magazine~
Passages
Animals never belong to us,
They pass through our lives,
on journeys of their own.
They ask no more of us
than that we love them and
let them go on in dignity and peace.
Animals come and go with lessons to learn
and lessons to teach.
So, we love them and learn.
We accept the pain of their going
as we accept the joy of their coming.
All of it is a blessing.
~Shirley Thayer~
Waiting
I got to the gate of Heaven yesterday
after we said good-bye.
I began to miss you terribly,
because I heard you cry.
Suddenly, here was an angel and she
asked me to enter Heaven's gate.
I asked her if I could stay outside for
someone who'd be late.
I wouldn't make much noise you see,
I wouldn't bark or howl.
I'll only wait here patiently and
play with my tennis ball.
The angel said I could stay right here
and wait for you to come.
Because Heaven just wouldn't be Heaven
if I went alone.
So, I'll wait right here, you take your time,
but keep me in your heart.
Because Heaven just wouldn't be Heaven,
without you to warm my heart.
~Author Unknown~
The Empty Leash
The empty leash hangs on the wall,
And waits for walks that will not be.
I hold it gently in my hands,
Caress it's worn length tenderly.
There's something missing as I walk,
No presence close to my left side,
a comforting, familiar friend,
on eager journey far and wide.
The only pain you ever gave was on the day you had to leave,
Aged, crippled, merely shadow of the dog you used to be.
So I made that dreaded decision,
Kept our date with destiny.
Did you know how much I loved you?
though it seems I must go on,
How it seared my soul to loose you,
Part of who I was is gone.
The empty leash hangs on the wall...fond memories,
Of swirling snow and large brown eyes,
Perhaps someday I'll smile at them
Right now the pain is still too strong.
high up in the courts of heaven today,
a little dog angel waits,
With the other angels he will not play,
But he sits alone at the gates.
"For I know my mistress will come," says he,
And when she comes she will call for me."
He sees the spirits that pass him by,
As they hasten towards the throne,
And he watches them with a wistful eye,
As he sits at the gates alone.
"But I know that if I wait patiently
Some day my mistress will come," says he.
And his mistress far on the earth below,
As she sits in her easy chair,
Forgets, and sometimes whistles low,
For the dog that is not there.
And the little dog angels pricks up his ears,
And dreams that his mistress' voice he hears.
And I know that when at length his mistress waits,
Outside in the dark and the cold,
For the hands of death to open the gates,
That lead to the courts of gold,
And the little dog angels eager bark,
Will comfort her soul in the shivering dark.
~Author Unknown~
Good-Bye
With heavy hearts; and a tear in our eyes
after all these years; we must say goodbye.
Please understand; we've done all we could
if there was anything we could do; you know we would.
I'm sitting right here; gently rub your ears
while I talk to you softly; trying to hold back the tears.
The memories you gave us; we'll never forget
especially the ones; of the day we met.
One last hug; and one last kiss
you have no idea; how much you'll be missed.
To look into your eyes this one last time
you tell me it's ok; you know it's your time.
Close your eyes now and go to sleep
we'll pray to the Lord; your soul he will keep.
Go in peace now; our good friend
we'll stay right here with you; until the end.
Dreams of that special day and time
when we'll meet at the Bridge; and all will be fine.
We'll run and play; side by side
With a soft warm feeling; deep down inside.
Your memory will love on; in each one of us
you'll always be number 1; to all of us
Have a safe journey; through the night
I promise when you awake; you'll be in God's light.
So with heavy hearts; and tears in our eyes
just for now my friend; we say goodbye.
~Author Unknown~
