beneath the bed rests absent friends
long silenced his rubs against my legs
alone my breath heals the scars
lie on the floor; my soul attends
the shadow cat who no longer begs
loving treats and rides in cars
and sounds of cereal boxes rent
in kitchens drawn from times long past
suffered hard and pierced my soul
dark form of his creeps, goes, and went
whose wanders leap and play and cast
without, within, no longer whole
this darkness in memories keep of mine
yet seen in cats both here and there
torn apart while robbed of spirit
emotion’s claws are deep and fine
I fail to see they do not care
I wonder why I do not hear it
for time or space lost in parts
as this fulfills what dares don’t stand
a final hour of love committed
this empty lap holds empty hearts
beneath my smile it demands
and with death is my mind committed
ears unscratched and fur unpetted
by hands filled with lonely nests
in time soon hence he will put on
marked by five lives unvetted
and lo, the different countenance
uncalloused, I hear his song
yet welcomed home by purr and patter
he waits for me; I know this now
forgiving my unyielding ways
held in time and space and matter
expected times; I see him prowl
and feel his fur upon my face
[for Henry]