Got a call that I was being stood up
for
a planned movie date
with my friend
who was called
to attend
a memorial
for a cat she helped to care for
one who acted like a mean tyrant bully
believing she was a lion
dominant and demanding of her people
and her fellow cat
‘marbles’
who is
so sweet and loving
to feed the lion
meant traveling
down the hall
behind
a protective shield
of cardboard
and with
a
backup person
lest there be
a sneak attack
an ambush
and now
the lion
was gone
and
it was to be
a cheesecake, tea, and fruit party
a wake complete with stories and memories and kind words
a gathering of everyone
who had helped care for her over the years
who had ever crossed paths with her
who had owned cats
who had loved and lived with cats
and my friend was left stumped
about what to say
what kind words
could she conjure up?
and she noticed
marbles
the surviving cat
sitting on the window sill
purring and sunning
and licking
the cheesecake
off of her front paws.
—
‘She clawed her way into my heart and
wouldn’t let go of it.’
– missy altijd
