She Didn't Come to Bed Last Night
67
I'm heading in. You coming?
Most nights, she’d already be waiting.
Warming the pillow. Saving my place.
Ready to curl her lithe body
to the small of my back.
Nuzzle my shoulder, my neck, my beard.
Content in our togetherness.
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But not tonight.
She’s holding out, holding back.
Nineteen years together.
Faithful companion.
She’s never strayed. Nor have I.
She knows my moods as well as I know hers.
She tolerates my tirades, always forgiving.
Recently, though, more coolness, less cuddling.
Has she become more finicky?
She’s definitely more aloof.
Increasing her alone time.
Affection receding.
I seek her out.
Invading her solitude.
She shuns my touch.
Arches her back.
Turns her head to the wall.
She’s pulling away, pulling into herself.
I know the signs.
Her nature, always independent, becomes intolerant.
I offer. She ignores.
Tentative, I reach to caress.
She repels, retreats.
She’s making it clear.
Nineteen years is a long time.
Longer than most.
I wait. Try once more.
Okay, good night then.
No acknowledgment. Silence.
She's on her way out.
Not tonight. But inevitable.
About this time last year we lost her sister.
I love you, Pat.
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- Pet Loss Grief Support, Rainbow Bridge, Monday Candle Ceremony,
Pet Loss Grief Support is the first place to visit when a beloved pet passes on. Here are personal support resources, Monday Candle Ceremony, Chat Room, SAFE Message Boards, Healing poetry including Rainbow Bridge and much more.
Have You Had Sibling Pets?
How long did the survivor live when his/her sibling died?
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Comments
I have always wondered why this happens. Pets must bond more than humans.
dori
Hi Hawkesdream. Since the "inspiration" for this hub the other night -- Patty seems to have rallied somewhat. She's got more than 9 lives, this one. But we know she's not going to be with us much longer. I think it's the anniversary of Penny's death that's got us sensitive. Thanks for the comment.
I'm glad she's feeling a bit better. I love my cat. He always knows when I'm down and shows up without being asked. Animals give something people can't or won't. They become as close as husbands or kids over time. I know my cat and dog probably won't outlive me but I can't stand to think about it. Lovely hub, thanks.
Thanks for visiting. Patty is Hubby's cat. But I love her like my own.
I knew from the start that this was about a cat, this is a beautifully written poem that expresses far more than just the sum of the words. It captures so much of the relationship and the love and draws a wonderful picture of both. I don't know how to write poetry and I don't read much of it either but I can recognise when something is good and this is very good.
I had 2 cats, sisters from the time they were kittens, Snickers and Kit Kat. Around 2 yrs, Snickers was snake bit, tried anti venom etc to no avail. It has been quite a few years since, but Kit Kat will not let any other cats around and sticks very close to me like she did her Sister Snickers.
Very nice, obviously really made me take a look at Kit Kat again and remember her story. Thanks!
This is lovely MM. A good reminder that we should all enjoy our current moments to the fullest, and show those close to us that we care.
Nineteen years is a long time...
Hi Maggs24, Darn! I tried so hard to make it seem like I was a man writing about his lover. Guess I'm more transparent thatn I thought!!
Emohealer -- So sorry about Snickers (btw -- love the names of your 2 cats!). But I absolutely believe that the bond between sisters is unbreakable.
Shibashake -- I couldn't agree more. As my mother-in-law and (also RIP, 2/09) father-in-law used to say, "Never go to bed angry."
FP -- You are the expert on these things. Yep. Patty is older than my son!
I hate losing an animal. We all become so attached. It would be unfair and wrong to say we become more attached to them than we do to humans. It's different, but just as strong in their own way. Bless you and yours..
Thanks, dear friend Christoph. Patty's a crotchety old lady. But she's "our" crotchety old lady. And yes, I understand perfectly what you mean about become more attached to them than humans. They are more than fur children. They are fur spouses (minus the sex -- that would be gross:-).
Yes, that would just be wrong, I mean, even if it was a...oh, I don't know...a sheep or something.
Christoph, have you been a baaaa-d, baaaaa-d boy?
No, I haven't been bad. Have Ewe?
You two are Shameless. LOL
My ex's grandfather died just a few months after his wife. It was so obvious that he died of a broken heart. I seemed to be the only one who found that beautiful. He must have loved her so dearly.
Pets certainly can be the closest family. And why not? They have so much love.
beautifully written, MM. Just beautiful. I enjoyed this so very much.
It's truly a love story, MM. Not really a cat person myself, but I have become so attached to dozens of dogs through my lifetime, many of them siblings or moms and pups. Our Mastiff isn't long for this world, and although we don't have one of his siblings, we do have a second dog that has formed a brotherhood of sorts with him. We took him out to my mom's for awhile to see if he rested better, but the dog left behind went into this depression and wouldn't even get up off the floor. I'm determined not to get any more dogs for awhile, but when the Mastiff passes, we may not have a choice for the Newfie.
I'm glad to hear that Patty has rallied. And a little grossed out by the thought of Christoph and a sheep.
Very touching, Mighty Mum. I've never had pets since I've been an adult, other than my daughter's hamster, but I remember how the whole family mourned our black labrador, Kimmy, when he died, aged 16. I was about 22 at the time, so he'd been a big part of my childhood, and even all these years later I remember him with fondness.
I hope Patty continues on a while longer. It's always sad to lose a friend.
PM -- I've heard of similar stories and absolutely find it beautiful.
AIDY- Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
LM -Nothing worse than a depressed dog! Mastiffs and Newfies -- you really have your hands full, don't you? God bless.
Amanda -- RIP Kimmy. It is always hard to lose a friend. At 22, tho, it's much more of a "remote" sadness than it is today. Probably something to do with now being a mother and losing my own parents and being that much closer to my own mortality and all that stuff:-).
Christoph -- Guess we can't pull the wool over their eyes anymore, can we?
Beautifully written...pets have love that is unconditional
This is very sad that I almost shed a tear!
very moving... just lovely.
Shamelabboush -- Oh no! Not you! Not a tear! That's truly frightening:-).
And my new friend Iðunn, thank you. BTW, your new avatar is just lovely also! MM
I think the same of your av... you look beautiful, happy and free. it's a great pic with a lot of positve connotations. :)
Aww. :( But, the upside is you still have some time with her.
I was listening to an interview with this doctor talking about the journey into death, and how in other cultures and especially other times, accompanying a loved one to death (not literally, but being with them as they made the last part of their journey) can bring amazing depth to our lives as we survive. On a bunch of levels (don't worry, my didactic ass won't go there lol). Like Christoph said, it's not the same, but, it's something with animals too. Enjoy your time with her.
Leave it to other cultures to have such a mature and philosophical take on the dying process. I'd have to agree, tho. Having been their through Penny's decline and standing by her as the doctor stuck the needle in, it was pretty profound. More profound was watching the monitor on my dad count down to zero and flatline and my father-in-law go through the predictable stages of declining food, then the changed breathing, etc. till.... gone.
Animals are beings, too, and their spirits leave their little bodies. Then they cross the rainbow bridge...
But hey, thanks for visiting and I appreciate not getting too didactic, although this issue could easily lead there! MM
Yeah, it could. Then you'd end up with a zealots forum going at some point. I like "cross the rainbow bridge" btw. I hadn't heard that in a while.
Beautiful! This really touched me. So very well written. Thank you.
MM
sensitivity permeates the lines of this one - despite the seemingly sparse wording. thanks for sharing :D
Thanks very much, Cris. I've got a long ways to go in "mastering" poetry as a medium. But it's fun working on it!! MM
Powerfully shows the place pets have in our families. Beautiful and touching.
I have never had sibling cats but when I was a boy we had two cats that were very dear to me and each other. When the male passed, the female went into deep depression and my mother thought that we would lose her. At the time I was over seas and that added to the situation since she was a one person cat and I was that person. What brought her out of it was my return home I think. She was an extremely intelligent and an amazingly emotional cat. She was amazing and the only cat that I have ever encountered that did not cause me to go into allergic fits. I have not been able to have, or even spend more than a few hours in a room with any cat since she passed and that was almost 30 years ago.
Hello Not Telling. Thanks for being a fellow pet fancier. Their place is right up there with humans -- at least I feel that way.
Trooper -- Your story says it all. Your cat was YOUR cat. I absolutely believe she grieved her sibling and you, until you came back. What a shame, though, that you suffer from such severe allergies. My doctor has suggested I do injections as he is savvy enough to know I will not get rid of my felines.
BTW, yesterday, July 6, was the one year anniversary of Penny's death. We observed it quietly. And Patty seemed to be participating also. MM
I know this feeling. I had a stray cat that I adopted as a kitten. She had two litters and I kept a girl from each litter. They were generally house cats but, obviously, they got away occasionally but always came back. Although they didn't die, the youngest got out and didn't return. The other two became very aloof when before they were always quite loving. The middle cat finally had enough and strayed as well. The mother became downright depressed. I seriously thought she would just roll over and die. My then-husband just had enough and took her to the humane society. I just came home one day and she was gone. It's a huge loss. Even though they didn't pass (that I know of), I miss my Classy, Beauty, and Justice...and I have seen how pets' personalities change severely when they lose their companions--mates, siblings, or children--after they have been together for a long time.
Hi S Lynn Mitchell. I can see you have had a similar -- if not exactly the same -- experience. Thanks for sharing. BTW, LOVE the names of your kitties!! MM
I'm reaching for my tissues. This reminds me of a time when I was pet sitting and an elderly cat whom I was watching came up to me one day and looked at me in a different way. I saw this cat frequently, and it always gave me the time of day, but this day was different.
I sat down beside its upright posture and stroked it gently. It watched me again and I had the feeling I wouldn't be seeing him again.
I didn't go to this house for a couple weeks, but when I was called to return the owner told me her cat had died a few days after I saw it last.
Animals know, and say their goodbyes when they can. I just wish it wasn't so hard for us still living.
A very good poem, symbolically depicting what happenned between husband and wife one night and why it happenned. Its a whole story of a conjugal relationship of 19 years revealed in this little poem. The poem although written for a pet, as Mighty Mom admits, has risen to the level of a good poetry as it generalizes the conjugal relationship and the crisis it goes through. This is the Power of Poetry. I read the comments, mostly the poem has been interpreted as a love for pet cat. I think the comments given by MAGGS224 are more appropriate. Congratulations, Mighty Mom, for a very good poem.
Hawkesdream says:
5 months ago
so sad, the losing of a friend, is hard to come to terms with.