Carolyn Gregory's prayer for cats

from Carolyn Gregory, Jamaica Plain MA

Bill, I called Peter Bates to let him know about Reggie's death, too.

Here is a poem I wrote a while ago about the "dead cats" I have known and loved. 

So sorry about your loss. 

Poem follows. 

PRAYER FOR THE CATS

On a spring day, I prayed for a cat

going into decline,

his paws unable to hoist the bones,

even his voice stretched thin.

Then I framed a golden cat

on my wall, focusing imagination

on the grace of a striped animal

prowling the savannah.

I have groomed the long haired Himalayan,

played hide and seek as my red tabby

jumped at my ankles,

full of glee.

No doubt my prayers for cats go deep

in April when the Siamese died twenty years ago

and we buried him in rainy earth.

When I am alone at night,

the cat ghosts come and guard my bed,

their eyes shining green lamps

in the darkness.

I gather them close.

--Carolyn Gregory, published in Bellowing Ark

Karl Kadie on Wonderful Reggie

from Karl Kadie, Cupertino CA

Bill,

I'm so sorry to hear that Reggie died.  

Reggie was a wonderful cat, 

a great companion to you to be sure. 

His own person, always.  My thoughts 

& sympathies are with you & your loss.  

Take care. 

- Karl

Julia Ball on Wonderful Reggie

from Julia Ball, Palo Alto CA

Oh, Bill, no!!--wonderful Reggie!!!

What a loss to our world, 

and what a dear, dear loss to you!

Reggie was fearless, a mighty hunter, 

and a friend to cat and man. He was 
playful and delightful. When you moved 

west, leaving behind his best cat buddy 
and his neighborhood freedom, 

he submitted to the harness. 

Above all, he had such heart. 

I'll never forget his keeping watch 

at Carolin's side or chair back, 

lending her the comfort of his 

loving presence. Reggie leaped 

tall fences in a single bound. 

His like will not be seen again.  

Farewell, dear Reggie; leap the fence,

and go to Carolin.

Love,
Julia

Reggie (13) RIP

My beloved Maine Coon cat Reggie (13) died last night while I slept. He was my cat-son/brother; Carolin chose him from among 9 cats on a dairy farm in Vergennes VT when she was at Breadloaf;
he was alert, amazingly agile, intelligent, could speak - "Out!", "Hello!" - I love/d him so. (I'll write more about him...when I'm able.)

Papa Francesco I

The first POPE Francis
surprises, amazes many,
starting w/ RomanCatholics.

If any of you are hoping 

he won't be assasinated,

don't be surprised if the curia

plays hard-ball bocci. 

(19 DEC 14, V V Santa Clara CA)v8

BUCCANEER

I drop Fiona at the edge of school,
joyful and humming with Sudafed and ibuprofen,
wearing parts of a kindergarten costume which still fit:

eye patch and vest, bandana and floppy hat,
cobbled together for this event she’s awaited
three years now, nearly a third of her life:
fifth graders celebrating Talk like a Pirate Day.

She dashes to join friends swirling in homage
to lives filled with derring-do and scurvy,
pillage and brutal early death,

though don’t we all dance likewise against fears,
taming the horror with humors,
and this on the heels of lessons
about kachinas and sacred clowns –

a sideswipe of memory: her sister, Kirsten,
enthralled with all celebration, public or private,
how she would have danced at that final drum circle,

her hair lifting in riverwind, all of us
smiling through tears while my little pirate
skips off toward that implacable shore:
bon voyage, me beauty, bon voyage.


~ George M. Perreault, Reno NV gmp@unr.edu

AS I WATCH

seagulls fly south
in pairs, in 5s,
as the #60 VTA bus
comes & goes below;
puddles are still.

12 DEC 14, V V Santa Clara CA

WINTER RAIN

Miles and seasons ago: backwoods Maine,
the Northeast Kingdom, up into Quebec,
Lac Memphrémagog, the summer thickened

with noseeums, tiny explosions on any exposed skin,
but today’s pinpricks are unexpected ice instead:
crystals lost in gray above and around, the sky

pressing wetly upon the womb of the valley,
while across the inland empire farmers and ranchers
no better than frogs pinging back and forth:

jubilee
oh merciful god
jubilee

- George M. Perreault, Reno NV 04 DEC 14

FIN'LLY R@IN!

Fin'lly!r@in
2+days w/o
complaint: 

"We need it!" 

(02 DEC 14, VV Santa Clara CA)v5