C
U D D L E S
by
Tolford A. Durham "Tad"
In our barn, many cats
and kittens are living,
of different colors
and types.
Some are grey, some
black and white, and some even have stripes.
But all are wild and
skittish,
And run whenever I’m
near.
Amid the crowd one stands
out and is so dear.
She’s black with
white feet and scrawny,
Looking like she just
came out of the rain.
But a loving friend
she was seeking,
A faithful person to
trust and remain.
While sitting in the
barn looking out at the day,
She came close, looking
up at my face.
She opened her mouth
as if talking, not sound to say.
Her little green eyes
pleading for love with her grace.
Her eyes were sick with
infection,
Her sneezes were often
and impure.
Her nose was blocked
with the problem,
Her mouth to her lungs
was the door.
But she had one gift
in great store,
Her love and affection
she gave freely,
Then came back to give
me some more,
As soon as she heard
me coming out the door.
As I sat watching the
setting sun,
She came to my chair
on the run.
She climbed up my pant
leg and settled in my arms,
as her purring spoke
of her charms.
While I talked to the
Lord about the day,
She wrapped her tail
around her.
She looked up into my
face as if to say,
I love you, old man,
I’m here to stay.
We closed the barn door
and went into the house,
She climbed into my
lap, quiet as a mouse.
As I watched TV, she
put up her paw
Upon my face, and told
me she loved me in her grace.
We went to
bed ‘round about nine.
She ate some dry food
while I took my time
Getting ready to sleep
and cuddle she would,
Sleeping as close as
she possibly could.
‘Round about one
and again ‘round four,
She roused me to take
her to the litter box door.
Then back to bed away
we would go,
As she cuddled again,
quietly more.
In the morning as the
sun would rise,
I’d take a warm
cloth and clean out her eyes.
Then patiently she’d
wait while I’d shave, shine and sit
Next to her as we talked
to the Lord a bit.
Downstairs we’d
go and get her fed,
To start her day out
of bed.
She’d go outside
and sit in the sun,
Till I came out in the
evening and to me she’d run.
That was our days and
our evenings too,
Such a loving companion,
so good, so true.
She seemed to grow thinner,
as her eyes got worse,
It seemed like all the
cats carried the curse.
I took her to the vet
this very day,
To get her medicine
so she could stay.
He found mites in her
ears, infection in her eyes,
Worms in her tummy came
as no surprise.
Doc George showed me
the drops to heal her through,
She’d
be well again in a week or two.
The he tested her blood
to see if he could find,
Any disease that was
hurting her kind.
The sentence was passed
as my heart skipped a beat,
She was full of love
but went down to defeat.
I left her in Doc’s
gentle hands and heart so kind,
But no solace for my
own was I able to find.
I miss her and there’s
a hole in my heart.
My tears run freely
as I write this part.
We’re no longer
together as in peace she lies still,
But my arms are empty
and will not be filled.
Cuddles, I love you
and thank you so much,
For giving
me your love, affection and such.
Lord, thank you for
the blessing of time with her I spent,
Her loving little body,
to me you lent.
My days are quiet, empty
and still.
I’ll never forget
the look of her love,
I will think of her
often and her love,
And maybe I’ll
see her when I get there Above.
Goodbye Cuddles.
Tolford
A. Durham "Tad"
© 2003
Tolford A. Durham
Poem provided courtesy of the author (thank you,
Tad) |