January 21, 2008

Mancat Monday - For Sweet Caesar

Caesar-April 15, 1991 - January 20, 2008
Our entire family wanted to dedicate Mancat Monday to our wonderful friend Caesar. It is so very painful to say good-bye to such a good friend. Our hearts, our prayers and our love go out to his sister Prinnie, his Mommy and Daddy and to his human sisters. Below is a poem that Mommy received when she lost Payton, a kitty Who Came Before. It was written a very long time ago, but it is still a beautiful sentiment. Sleep well sweet Caesar, you were a fine example to Mancats everywhere!
Where to Bury A Cat
There are various places within which a cat may be buried. We are thinking now of a tabby cat, a striped cat, whose coat was like watered silk, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought. This cat is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and at its proper season the cherry strews petals on the green lawn of his grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good cat. For beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer, or chased bees, or lifted head to challenge some winged intruder. These are good places, in life or in death.For if the cat be well remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that cat sleeps at long and at last. On a hill where the wind is unrebuked and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in kittenhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where the most exhilarating moles burrow. It is all one to the cat, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost -- if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a cat. One place that is best of all.If you bury him in this spot, the secret of which you must already have guessed, he will come to you when you call -- come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living cats, they shall not hiss at him, nor resent his coming, for he is yours and he belongs there.People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no mew pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a cat. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing.The one best place to bury a good cat is in the heart of his owner.
by Ben Hur Lampman, Portland Oregonian, 1921

27 comments:

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

That is a lovely tribute to Caesar. He will be very much missed.When mum read "Where to bury a cat" her eyes started leaking again and she said that is so very true.

Anonymous said...

Parker, that is so sweet. Thank you for sharing the poem.

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

That is a beautiful poem, and a lovely tribute to Caesar. Thank you for sharing.

We are very very sad that Caesar has gone to the Bridge. We will miss him. :(

Spike William and Angels China Cat and Willow said...

Willow and I were so sorry to hear yesterday that Caesar had gone to the Bridge.

That is such a lovely tribute you made today for Caesar. Now our eyes are all leaky again. There have been so many sweet tributes for such a sweet gentlemancat, Caesar the Tuxie Tiger.

Purrrrrrs, China Cat

Monty Q. Kat said...

There's a definate Casear-shaped hole in the world today.

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

I am thinking of Caesar, very very deeply >_<

Kaz's Cats said...

Thank you for that poem - it's beautiful. We're sure Caesar's family will appreciate it.

Purrs

Gypsy & Tasha

Tommy and Teaghan said...

Thanks for sharing that. It's beautiful.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Parker, that was beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Deaerest Parker,
That was very very VERY nice. We are all havin' a whole hour of silence in the sunshine in honor of Caesar.
Very truly yours,
The Whiskers & Purrs Gang

Samantha & Mom said...

Wow, that was beautiful Parker. We will miss Caesar!
Your FL furiends,



PS: Yes Rudy can join the M-Cats Club, I will add him. Tigger

Shaggy and Scout said...

Very lovely, Parker.

Queen Snickers, Empress and Princess Renna said...

Momma eyes can't stop leaking, people at day hunting are going to wonder what's wrong with her. They should have take a day off when a friend's kitty passes time. :( ~Queen Snickers

Kavan said...

Now mom is sobbing....that was so beautiful. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure Caesar's family will take some comfort in this tribute.

Kavan

The Meezers or Billy said...

whata beautiful tribute

Daisy said...

That was very beautiful, and it made my eyes leaky again. Caesar will be greatly missed.

Kimo and Sabi said...

Tha wuz a furry nice piece of writing - nicely said.

Mickey's Musings said...

That was so nice and so true. We will always remember Caesar,but for a little bit, I must be sad.
Purrs Mickey

Chancy, Jake, Babe and Ernies Voice said...

Hi Parker, Thank you for stopping by to see my new little brother Jake. Please stop back again soon. We are very sad about Ceasar also.

Hugs~Chancy

Big Piney Woods Cats said...

It is so sad about Caesar. Too many great cats are going to the Bridge! Lovely tribute.

Patches

Earl Grey said...

It's so sad about Caesar. The Mom can't look at a picture of him without getting all leaky eyed. WE really like the tribute, too. It's really beautiful.

EG

Earl Grey said...

Diamond, I tagged you for a meme on our post tomorrow.

EG

Milton said...

That made my mombean all leaky. I have to snuggle her and she always leaks all over my ginger furrs as she hugs me.

The Cat Realm said...

How sweet - that's where our Anastasia is buried - in our hearts - and today our hearts are with Caesar's family -

PB 'n J said...

Oh Parker - that poem was just lovely, but now Mommy's eyes are leaking again! Our hearts are with Princess and her family today, purring for them in this hard time.

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

We're not sure what to say. That statement by Ben Hur Lamoman is somewhere between amazing and perceptive, but we're not sure of the right word. It was very comforting, though. We liked it.

Very nice thought for a tribute...

Sunny's Mommy said...

Lovely poem for such a sad time.