(1998 - 2010)
some people say
dogs are parasites. If that’s true
then cats are demons
that hug your face & plant their fetus
down your esophagus
where it snuggles in a writhing coil
until it unwinds out your pureed cave. Pukey
hairballs on the stove burner again –
that’s a unique smell to come home to. Clean
& hug & repeat
*
I’d like to think I found you
by myself, but that’s never really the case. No act
of love is private – there’s no privacy
in love. Dusty thing in a thrift store
brand new to me. What fits in the hand
grows into armfuls & infamy
& then there’s all that hair to sweep
& a Mount St. Helens of poop.
There I go talking about love
what the hell?
*
all your mothers text:
where are you?
all your mothers comment:
in the bathtub licking the drain, stupid!
*
now that you’re gone, how do I know
if I was good to you? As good as I could have been –
there was no one to ask then
& no one to ask now. NPR in the kitchen. The house
is just full of stuff that can’t listen
*
I’m not normally sentimental.
I’m not normally this kind.
I spend too much money in restaurants.
I come home late & you’re still my best friend.
Deadbolt spits out keys like a baby, Jim Beam me to bed
where the old cat rules my legs
11 comments:
i'm sorry to hear :(
It's ok.
I cried at Qdoba today.
What the hell is a Qdoba anyway? I have to google that.
I'm going to order this great St. Francis of Asisi statue for Bassie's grave.
In my memory, he's dapper in a shirt and tie. King of the party.
And I have no idea when / how I'm going to tell my daughter...
the house is just full of things that can't listen....:(
(crying) xoxoxo
NPR in the kitchen. The house is just full of stuff that can’t listen.
Selfishly your post gave me a much needed cry. Selfishly too, I'm glad Bassie bit my neck once.
Lord, he was a little vampire. What was with that?
Hi Justin - I don't know you but was directed here from Tracey's blog. I lost my cat two weeks and this is exactly how I feel. Thank you for sharing. I feel less alone.
the funny thing is i never heard of Qdoba til this wknd, funny like irony irony like ooops that's disrespectful in light of the loss of bessie. or is it i bet she liked mexican food, too? anyway. st. francis and me have a special thing i am thankful that bessie will have such a peaceful angel by her side.
"People love to boast about their stallions;
they tell me nothing can compare
to a horse or donkey---
enough!---I don't want to argue the point,
only cry for you a little."
---excerpted from "An Offering for the Cat" by Mei Yao-ch'en, Chinese poet in the Sung Dynasty years
Here from Sweetney, and you have my deep condolences on the passing of your cat.
wow Justin well said.
Ya know. It's often the less sentimental folks that get kicked in the head by something.
I like your way with words.
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