I found Steely in the basement today. He had died days before and fluids were already leaking out. We buried him under the pear tree. We all agreed he was the most special cat. A cat extraordinaire. I wrote a valedictory poem and wrapped him in a flannel shirt. We placed a large flat rock on the grave. You don't know what you've got til its gone. Yesterday the Compton Memorial event. Today ...
Evening light was on the wane, As we shoveled earth back onto the shrouded body plus a can of cat food for the journey, other animals gathered. Daisy sniffed, Sox whimpered and wagged. Mandu kept his distance. And Zip solemnly headed a goat delegation, sitting stock-still watching everything. Clearly something was happening. We thought we knew what that was.
 |
Lisa and Steely
To a Cat that Was:
Valediction to our Mutual Friend
I was a fan of Steely Dan
Thoreau to be precise
Who was the best friend you could want
Except to little mice
They said he was a feral cat
A policeman for the barn
And true enough we soon became
A mouse-free farm
They said he was a feral cat
Who’d never let us near
Til he wrapped himself around my neck
And purred into my ear
His coat was black and yet concealed
A soft vanilla white
The dandiest of cats he was
And ever so polite
However long a walk we took
Dear Steely galloped too
“Where are we going?” he would ask
I’m coming with you
There never was a cat so free
So wild and yet so tame
Mr Steely Dan Thoreau
His illustrious name
June 15, 2014
|
