Two Poems in Memory of My Cat Abby

We had to put my cat Abby to sleep this week. It was a decision that had to be made. I was at my daughter’s house Monday night when my husband called with the news that Abby was in distress. He wanted to know where the nearest animal hospital that provided 24-hour emergency services was located. Fortunately, my daughter and son-in-law knew of an excellent one not too far from our house where they had to take their dog Jack once when he got heat stress last year.

Abby had been a gift to my daughter Sara from her high school boyfriend—a really fine young man. He got Abby for Sara after we had to have her cat Amber put to sleep. (Amber had cancer and wasn’t able to eat and barely able to walk.) Like Amber, Abby had been having some difficulty walking recently. She had a heart murmur and congestive heart failure. I'm glad that she didn't suffer for long.

Abby had been my buddy for more than fifteen years. She was a funny cat--a true character. She was also great company for me when my husband was away from home on extended business trips.

You can catch a glimpse of Abby in the lower right-hand corner of the picture below.

I thought I’d write a poem—a Fib—in memory of Abby this morning:

Cat
Soft

Furry
Purry friend
Cuddler on the couch
My comforter curled beside me

Here’s a cat mask poem that Abby inspired. I posted it some time ago at Wild Rose Reader.

I’M CAT

I’m cat.

Come pat
My head.
I’ll purr.
Please stroke

My thick

And silky fur.

I’m clean,

Serene.
I lick.
I preen.
I’m naughty…
Haughty.
I’m the queen.

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REMINDER

Win a Poetry Book!
Every week during April, I’ll be giving away a children’s poetry book at Wild Rose Reader. If you leave a comment at one of my poetry posts during the first week of National Poetry Month (April 1-7), I’ll enter your name in the drawing to win a copy of Poem in Your Pocket for Young Poets: 100 Poems to Rip Out & Read. The poems were selected by Bruno Navasky and the book was published in conjunction with The Academy of American Poets. (Note: If you leave comments at two of my poetry posts, I'll enter your name twice...and so on.) The winner of the book will be announced next Sunday (April 8^th).

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The Poetry Friday Roundup is at Read, Write, Howl this week.