Each and every cat, which has ever owned a human being, holds a special place in the heart of its person. Some cats are just ordinary. While their presence may add serenity, or comfort, they have no, never-to-be-forgotten memories. When this kind of cat passes on, another such cat easily replaces it. I can remember every cat that has ever owned me, and can name each of them, recalling what stage of my life they entered and left. But of all these cats, there have been only a few who have implanted an indelible impression on me. And the memory of those cats lingers on and on. A cat we had a few years ago is just such a cat. Her name was HONEY. She was part Siamese and part Himalayan. For the first year of her life she had been mistreated. She came to us, frightened and aloof. And the first night she was with us, she disappeared. I was afraid to go ask at her former place, if she had returned, as I didn't want them to think I had carelessly let her out. Here is her story.
Honey, Honey, you have left us; of your presence, you’ve bereft us. When you came you were so frightened, but our lives you surely brightened. But that night while we were sleeping, you upon the roof came creeping. Honey, Queen of kitty litter, Grand Monarch of every critter: In the garden we’d be digging, or some project we’d be rigging: Honey, though we’re sad you left us, and of your presence you’ve bereft us, © Helen Dowd
But your memory will linger: always ours, one-of-a-kind.
In the evening, while we’re sitting, maybe reading, maybe knitting,
We imagine we can hear you, creeping on us from behind.
Then we realize you can’t be. You, a better home did find.
It is all, just in our mind.
But you left us that first evening; out the window you did climb.
Then next evening we were sitting; he was reading, I was knitting,
We imagined that we heard you, creeping on us from behind.
Then we realized: it can’t be. No. Your old home you did find.
Perhaps it was just in our mind.
It was then that you did choose us: you were ours, one-of-a-kind.
From then on when we’d be sitting, he’d be reading, I’d be knitting,
We just knew that you would join us, creeping on us from behind.
Then we realized you loved us. Honey, you your home did find.
It was not just in our mind.
You would see that all obeyed you--dog, cat, bird, and humankind.
But whenever we’d be sitting, watching T.V., reading, knitting,
You would condescend to join us, creeping on us from behind.
You had realized you loved us. You, with us, your home did find.
You always kept this fact in mind.
We would see you there, just watching, looking on us, so sublime.
But if ever we’d be sitting, maybe reading, maybe knitting,
We’d expect that soon you’d join us, creeping on us from behind.
Oh, we realized you owned us. Home was yours and ours combined.
This we had to keep in mind.
In your fourteen years you gave us, sunshine, pleasure, joy, combined.
Now whenever we are sitting, maybe reading, maybe knitting,
We still feel that you are near us, watching us, somewhere behind.
Yet, we realize you can’t be. You, your final home did find.
But you’re always in our mind.
