 |
| source |
In the wee hours, the cats came by, not you.
Here is Pierette who lived to be nineteen
smoothing her way past Wicca from before.
How small Wicca is, though still larger than
Red, the first of the three, who was poisoned
in a neighbor’s yard. Red is pure white still.
Pierette sniffs Red first—her own black and white
camouflages him while she licks and purrs.
Grey Wicca watches and poses to pounce,
her question-mark tail quivering, claws out.
Tears stream down and I taste salt on my lips.
I hold my tabby cat Miracle in
candlelight—her fur stands up and she yowls.
The two of us watch three ghost cats play and
smell fresh bacon I made in case you came.
Did you eat elsewhere or watch us, love?
Written for my prompt Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Halloween, or Celebrating the Dead.
Copyright © 2014 S.L.Chast
How nice to playfully have them around. Somehow cats are more palatable than dogs in the house. So it should have been fun! Wonderful write Susan!
ReplyDeleteHank
Susan, this is a very poignant poem. If visits of this nature are to happen, it is only appropriate that they take place on All Hallows Eve! None of my beloved former pets have ever revisited...your poem has got me missing them, and I will give my three dogs extra hugs.
ReplyDeleteOh, I just totally love this, and can certainly relate!
ReplyDeleteLove love love ... and hoping my sweet babies visit as well ... although I am not "at home" -- I know they know where I am!!
ReplyDeleteI know they visit.
ReplyDeleteThe mystery and the mood here are perfectly in tune with the season, and the cats, well, they are always themselves.
ReplyDeleteOh, this pings at my heart, the ghost cats, Miracle yowling at your tears, and bacon "in case you came." Very poignant.
ReplyDeleteGreat visual imagery - I'm watching over my little black cat Sadie tonight (more than usual).
ReplyDeleteaww nice to leave something out for them - plenty to eat on such a night apparently.
ReplyDeleteLove the visiting and watching each other: cats- ghosts-human...~ Seasonal poem ~ x
ReplyDeleteOur cats, though physically gone, dropped a piece of their spirit within me. Delightful poem.
ReplyDeleteWhen the past comes to visit it can be hard.
ReplyDeleteThey would never eat anywhere else. They know what awaits... ♥
ReplyDeleteI hope your All Hallow's Eve was gentle and full of good memories...
Ghost cats....They return whether we see or hear them. Love is too strong to simply leave.
ReplyDeleteHow creative-watching those ghost cats!
ReplyDeleteI smell the bacon and see fur fly!
:D
Cats add an important dimension to a life.Those who do not love cats have no real heart in my experience.
ReplyDeleteOh me. You really got me with this one. I think of my four dogs who have passed on, all the time. I even tell my new one, Skittles, "your big brother used to do this", or "your big sister liked to do that". Adding the Halloween element only made this all the better, Susan.
ReplyDeleteoh, I love this ~
ReplyDeletePurrfect.
ReplyDelete