Illustration Friday #40 "Tribute"

This is art and poem is a tribute to my dear little cat Minky-Mouse. I wrote this poem right after she passed three years ago. She was my first cat. We shared 17 years together. Smartest sweetest tabby ever. With an M on her forehead!

My Morning Herald

From a dream to waking, I sense her.

Creeping across the old creaky floorboards on little cat feet.

At our appointed time, just before sunrise,

I hear her purr as she climbs along my resting body.

Heavy and warm she curls up on my chest, extending a paw to touch my face.

Her purr winds down to quiet breath. We sleep.

All is still but the ticking clock.

Suddenly, times up!

With a loud thump she jumps down and slinks away.

Her rumbling purr starting up again as she begins her pre-dawn prowl.

But, this morning is different. My dear morning herald will not be visiting.

A fast growing disease took her gently from me last night.

I have slept late with out my feline alarm.

I shiver with the ache of her absence.

Now, I turn at a whisper, like her quiet approach.

In a patch of sunlight I think I catch a glimpse her shadow slipping away.

I eye her favorite catnip mouse with its face worn away from loving licks.

A kitty bowl, a scratching pad, her fleecy blank-y coated with fur.

All fresh aches to remind me she’s gone.

It will take time to break the habits we had together.

Time to forget how her warm pink paws felt on my skin,

the luxurious feel and smell of her mink soft fur, her resonating purr.

She was my companion,

my vigilant partner in training four rescue dogs how to behave.

I feel privileged to have shared the life of this brave little stray,

and will forever keep her in my heart and in my dreams.

Yet always, I will miss her in the hush of the early morning dawn.

Minky Mouse Moffatt February 1993- September 2010