Goodbye Squeakers

by Sharon
(Sunshine Coast, Australia)

5am Miaowing up and down the hall
Won't eat dry food more then four hours old
Stretching across the newspaper page
The jigsaw, the magazine anything flat

Lying in wait by the cupboard
Just waiting to pounce
Tripping me as i am walking past
For you this is fun at its best

Rubbing your cheek against my hand
Purring like this is heaven sent
Spread on your back like a $2 tart
Eyes rolled back as your dreaming starts

Swatting the dogs
Let them know who is boss
Birds, mice, gheckos, you're too old
And don't give a toss

Cuddling in on a winter night
Sensing somehow when there are tears in my eyes
Sitting quietly on the sidelines
No clamouring for you , we're on cat time

We found a gorgeous man you liked
With a nice comfy lap on a cold night
Who treated you as you deserve
With dignity, love and the occasional serve

My gorgeous boy my handsome man
My grand old feline my lifelong friend
19 years we've had together
But your eyes say this can't last forever

6 houses, 8 jobs, a few live in men
I can't believe it has to end
Half my life i have had you near
This cannot end without a tear

Suddenly skinny, no purrs from you
Licking some gravy is the best you can do
Hard to stand and hard to lie
Can't lift your head up to the sky

A drive to the vet, can't see the road for crying
My handsome man is near to dying
I know its selfish to keep you alive
But my heart is breaking on this too short drive

One last cuddle i love you my boy
I'll never forget you I'm so sorry
Holding your head so painless so fast
But our memories will never pass

Now winter is coming and our laps are cold
With no self-confident cat, cuddling, purring, so bold
No tripping and purring and cheek rubs and miaows
And now your absence is so loud.