January 14, 2010

In Memory of My Friend

 For a friend

Our thoughts and prayers to LC's family. She ran to the Bridge yesterday and became it's newest angel. I posted this poem when her brother Skeeter passed away a little over a year ago. I hope it brings some small comfort to LC's family. LC, someday we will meet at the Bridge, save a sun spot for me.

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

29 comments:

The Island Cats said...

That's a beautiful poem. We hope LC's family finds some comfort in it. We are so sad about LC going to the bridge and we're purring for TBT, Ayla and Iza who are missing her so much...

The Florida Furkids said...

We're sad about LC too. It was really nice of you to share that very nice poem...we know it will help.

Sniffie and the Florida Furkids

Cory said...

We are so sad to learn that LC went to the Bridge. It reminded my mom to hug us all extra hard.

Dma said...

i love the poem.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Yep, we saw that about poor LC, way sad.

KitKat said...

Oh, Parker, we are so sad to hear about LC. We follow that blog daily. Poor Mark. Thank you for letting us know. We are teary eyed. We are certain Normie will seek him out. That is a beautiful poem.
Bridge angel Normie, Mika, Sasha & Grady

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely poem...Mom's eyes are leaking. We are sad too about LC!

One Cats Nip said...

These posts make me so sad.

Kea said...

I'm so very sorry for the loss of LC. I went to the blog, will follow it. It was a difficult post to read, partly because my Annie is hyper-t and on meds twice a day, partly because the anniversary of my Chumley's death is coming up soon, and partly because the loss of any beloved four-legged companion cuts deeply, even when s/he wasn't your own.

Universal Blessings and Peace and healing Light to all.

-Kim, with Annie, Nicki, Derry and "angel" Chumley

Max said...

LC was awesome...I'm really gonna miss her :(

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

We were very sad when we heard about LC. That is the most touching memorial. Mum had very leaky eyes when she read it.

Anonymous said...

We are so sorry for the loss of your furriend. We will go pay our respects to their family. That is a lovely poem and it made moms eyes all leaky. Again, we're sorry.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

We'z going to miss LC but know she is happy now playing wif Skeeter at da bridge and waiting fur TBT to come (a long, long time from now) and collect dem.

jenianddean said...

Poor LC ...
--Jasper

Admiral Hestorb said...

That just made me cry. I am so sorry for her family as I have been there too. All of us have and it is so wrenching when they pass.

Love and hugs to all of you and to the sweet new angel.

Lisa Kolosey said...

Big sigh....thanks...that was a sweet poem. Tears.
~Lisa Co9T

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

We are sorry fur your loss...

Tank woo fur sharing that special piece of prose...

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

That is a lovely post and tribute to our friend!

Catline Crew said...

That was a very touching post. We are sure LC's family will take great comfort from it as well as all who have lost a furry friend.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

We are so sorry to hear that LC ran off to the bridge, the only comfort is that she is with Skeeter....

sad purrs
Abby

Mickey's Musings said...

We are sorry about LC.
We will purr for her family.
Purrs Mickey, Georgia Tillie

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

We're sorry for the loss of LC, that is a very comforting poem.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

What a marvelous memorial to LC

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

We are mourning LC's loss. ~AFSS

Daisy said...

I am very sad about LC, too. I hope she and Skeeter are playing together and having fun. That was a beautiful piece of writing you posted.

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

Parker, thank you for the lovely tribute to LC. We are just now (1-18) gettin around ta visitin our friends again. And thank you for the wunnerful sympathy card. We were all very touched by it...

Tyler said...

Parker, we just read your news about LC today. When we tried to visit Mark and the girl's blog it was gone. Do you know where they are? We're worried. How did LC pass?

Tyler at tyler tattles.

Tyler said...

Parker, thanks, I found them and the info I was seeking.
Be well...

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

Oops, we moved ta http://marksmews.blogspot.com...

We think we dint do it right...