07 January 2026

Letting go

 



Grief has been gentle lately.
A constant companion, it lives
under the surface of the face I show the world.
 
The most recent of the deaths
I experienced was that of my black cat Mariah.
Letting go of her was hard.
 
She never sat on me or let me hold her,
but stretched out purring next to me
when I sat on the couch.
 
And now I hold a stuffed animal
against my heart where I wished
she had put her weight and loud purr.
 
As I age, life lets go of many I love,
and the air feels thinner and colder.
A stuffed animal warms my heart.


 

For Mary's prompt "Letting Go" at What's Going On? 



My blog poems are rough drafts.

Please respect my copyright.
© 2025 Susan L. Chast



7 comments:

  1. Sherry Blue Sky1/07/2026 10:13 AM

    I so know that feeling, Susan. Our fur companions are lodged so deeply in our heart. They loved us well and devotedly and kept our space from feeling emty. Sigh. I have a stuffed black wolf. He is too silent.

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  2. Mary1/07/2026 10:15 AM

    Oh yes - I understand grief living underneath the face one shows the world! I feel that too, about my friend who died, about many other things - not only people but losses that I hide behind a smile. And I certainly understand why the death of your cat, your constant companion, would be hard. Their is something about a furry friend's presence that helps warm a space. I do hope the stuffed cat helps a bit. I love this authentic poem!

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  3. Sumana Roy1/07/2026 11:09 AM

    "And now I hold a stuffed animal
    against my heart"... How very difficult it is to let go a dear pet! This is a beautiful ode to Mariah.

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  4. rallentanda1/07/2026 1:36 PM

    When they are special they can never be replaced. They leave a deep hole...a very sad part of life which we alll have to face at some stage.

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  5. Jae Rose1/07/2026 7:04 PM

    I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved cat. Your poem is a wonderfully composed exploration of loss and life - it's structure echoing the thinness that can occur with time - Jae

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  6. Intelliblog1/08/2026 7:47 AM

    A loss of a beloved pet is a very hard emotional challenge to cope with, Susan. I have experienced the same a long time ago. letting go will take time... Beautiful poem!

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