Of Steak & Sunlight

In my dreams

You come to me

Healthy and hearty

Silken and shining

Meticulous whiskers

My heart leaps to the puppet strings at the corner of my mouth

+

I wake

The morning presses in on me

That silken dream dissolving behind my eyes

I feel you somewhere in my home

Heavy like a stone

Pulsing like a heart

I hope

+

I tread softly

As if afraid to wake you

And not just afraid

Your rib cage

Frail as she is

Still moves

Cage is the right word

You will look to escape it soon, I think

+

You lift your head

Blink your bleary eyes

Twitch your ragged whiskers

Yes, I am still here, silly human

You follow me to the kitchen

Eager as ever

So hungry, always hungry

I lift you to your food bowl

Your bones break my heart

+

Bowl licked clean

You wait beside it for seconds

Of course. Name it. It's yours.

I help you to the litter box

Ah yes, this. I remember.

You curl up beside me

Sleep is a constant companion

Even the dog is gentle with you now

+

There is only one way, now

To halt this decline

Before it becomes suffering

There is a grassy spot beside the walled pond

Where an old friend waits

Sleeps, dustily

Impatiently

The ghost of a tail wagging

To greet your incessant teasing

and fake disembowelment

With gentle eyes

Soon, old friend.

Soon.

+

It's shrinking, my little love

This window

We have together

You and I

Of Steak and Sunlight

+

Thank you for reading!

It is hard when a pet dies, but the decline is also hard. On them, and on you.