Poems to remember

Animals
1

One of our Cat Rescue Centre volunteers just sent me this. It is lovely and I'm sure will be appreciated by you all.


To Love Again


Oh what unhappy twist of fate
Has brought you homeless to my gate,
The gate where once another stood
To beg for shelter warmth and food?

For from that day I ceased to be
The master of my destiny,
While she, with purr and velvet paw
Became within my house the law.

She scratched the furniture and shed
And claimed the middle of my bed,
She ruled in arrogance and pride
And broke my heart the day she died.

So if you really think, oh cat
I'd willingly relive all that,
Because you come forlorn and thin
Well don't just stand there - come on in!


~Author Unknown~



Do you have any similar that you micht like to share?

2

Thanks Melissa, and to think that this little chap was abandonned twice at just 5 weeks old, the second time in a local vet surgery car park and all she could offer was to put him to sleep!!!

3

Oh Lynn, what a fabulous photo - hurrah for Indi the birthday boy! I may have to print this and put it on the refrigerator next to Nenette (she's got the spirit).

4

Fantastic Melissa and true for many of us, I'm sure!!

It's Indi's birthday today - 3 years of rascal-dom and we wouldn't be without him!!

Indi2.JPG721×961 220 KB

5

What a lovely ode to your boy! Why do I get the feeling that he might be a little pampered... lol.

6

Here's a silly poem, by yours truly from three years ago, when my heart-cat showed up.

I have a black Kitty with big, round, green eyes.

Not wanting a kitty, this is a surprise.

He came through the garden and straight to my heart.

He's lucky and plucky and handsome and smart.

I feed, pet and kiss him, write checks to the vet,

And his part of the deal is he deigns to accept.

7

It seems that many of us have been touched by the loss (and gain) of a dear animal. Let's count ourselves lucky that they chose us to share their lives with, and thank you all for sharing your poems!

8

You must be so relieved that she came home Annie, she is one very lucky girl - give her a big hug from us all!

9

This is so apt! My little ginger cat went missing 12 days ago, no big drama , just didn't come home. Bit by bit I got sad. Moved her bowl, hoovered up her fur................ Then last friday hopped in, on 3 legs, and so thin she could hardly stand. With the 4th paw held high and the size of a tennis ball. She stopped at the dogs water bowl and drank for 5 minutes without stopping then fell over and slept. We took her to the vet, fearing she was too far gone and would at best loose her leg. She slept, not even stirring to be put in the basket. 5 days later she is home, still thin, with a lollipop foot but hopping around and eating fit to bust!eat sleep eat sleep....... She had walked on something wich infected her foot and the abcess developed, too sore to walk home. he said the flies had started to land on her she was so far gone and getting home was her last ounce of strength! The vet reckons she will be fine, in time, But for now she eats and sleeps, how amazing are these animals, what reserves they have!And how good was it to see her at the door, going to stroke her now...................!

10

My kind vet gave me this poem when I lost my beloved dog around 20 years ago when I was a teenager. I still keep the poem close to my heart now and have loved and lost a few more of my beloved friends since.

Also a phrase quoted to me recently by a good friend, "To Love Much Is To Hurt Much"

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this, the last battle, can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.

Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree,
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't grieve that it must be you,
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
¨
Dedicated to those very much loved pets whom we have shed many a tear for.

11

God's Request

"I'll lend you for a little while, a Sheepdog pup," God said,

"for you to love him while he lives and mourn for when he's dead.

Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or only two or three,

but will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me?"

"He'll bring his charms to gladden you and should his stay be brief,

you'll always have his memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,

but there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn."

"I looked the whole world over in search of teachers true,

and from the folk that crowd life's land, I have chosen you.

Now will you give him all your love, nor think the labour vain,

nor hate me when I come to take my bobtail back again?"

I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, thy will be done.

For all the joys this pup will bring, the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness. We'll love him while we may,

and for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay."

"But should you come to call him back much sooner than we've planned,

we'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.

If by our love we've managed your wishes to achieve,

in memory of him we loved, to help us while we grieve.

When our shaggy, faithful bundle departs this world of strife,

we'll have another tailess pup and we'll love him all his life."

:wag:



Author: Gill Harwood, founder of the Gill Harwood Old English Sheepdog Rescue and Welfare Fund in the UK.

12

ODE TO A DOG

When the first great cause of things, left man to evolve with time

He built a lesser body a fragment of love divine

To give the poorest beggar a love that makes him a king

And kiss the hand that is empty when fortune and friends take wing

As a name for this rare being reflecting the love of God,

Man spelt his creator backwards and called his small likeness Dog.

Ananymous, read and remmebered from 1965

13

This is said in such a lovely way, and it is a tale we hear often from people who have lost their animals.

So thank you Julie, I will definitely use this to help those more unfortunate in the future!

14

That's beautiful Julie, thank you for sharing.

15

Simply lovely Suzie - thank you!

Your two look like they made the right choice too!!

18

Okay Lynn here is a happy poem!!! called "Cats are wonderful friends"

Gentle eyes that see so much

Paws that have the quiet touch

Purrs to signal "all is well"

And show more love than words can tell

Graceful movements touched with pride

A calming presence by our side

A friendship that takes time to grow

Small wonders why we love them so

19

I realise that the title of this discussion ebbs towards those cats gone by but it should also be to celebrate those we have now and those we will have and all who give us so much joy every day -

I'm Only A Cat

I'm only a cat,
and I stay in my place...
Up there on your chair,
on your bed or your face!

I'm only a cat,
and I don't finick much...
I'm happy with cream
and anchovies and such!

I'm only a cat,
and we'll get along fine...
As long as you know
I'm not yours... you're all mine!

20

This is also lovely, Suzie!

I also have a poem to share to comfort anyone who has lost a furry feline friend:

We wish we could have told you,
in words you'd understand,
We wanted you to stay with us.
This wasn't what we'd planned.

We wish somehow to tell you,
How empty we now feel.
A part of us went with you,
A part that time can't heal.

We wish we'd once more hear you,
in your softly, rumbling purr,
to hold you on our laps again
and stroke your golden fur.

We wish we had you back again,
to fill this empty space.
But one day we'll be together
in a far, far better place.

( To Okie with love by Kristen Sharer)

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