Today we lost our cat, Truffle, in a room with a mural of a doggie and kitty floating on clouds in an impossibly blue sky and several teddy bears with wings propped in corners. Our home is empty of its brightest spirit.
It may take a day or two but I know she'll be back, nesting in my hair as I sleep.
Friends part only to meet again. You haven't seen the last of me, Truffie.
The Cat and the Moon
The cat went here and there
And the moon spun round like a top,
And the nearest kin of the moon,
The creeping cat, looked up.
Black Minnaloushe stared at the moon,
For, wander and wail as he would,
The pure cold light in the sky
Troubled his animal blood.
Minnaloushe runs in the grass
Lifting his delicate feet.
Do you dance, Minnaloushe, do you dance?
When two close kindred meet,
What better than call a dance?
Maybe the moon may learn,
Tired of that courtly fashion,
A new dance turn.
Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
From moonlit place to place,
The sacred moon overhead
Has taken a new phase.
Does Minnaloushe know that his pupils
Will pass from change to change,
And that from round to crescent,
From crescent to round they range?
Minnaloushe creeps through the grass
Alone, important and wise,
And lifts to the changing moon
His changing eyes.
William Butler Yeats
64 comments:
Aww. Condolences on the loss.
I am so sorry to hear the news. It is a fitting tribute, this beautiful poem.
With my sympathy I send you a hug, a pet is beloved as a family member.
We'll miss you Truffle.
so sorry for your loss. I agree that Truffle won't be away from you for very long.
What a wonderful goodbye. Thank you so much for your words. You're right; friends part only to meet again.
I'm so very sorry. They carry your heart so well in their paws.
My Panda has been gone two years and I still hear her some nights.
Beautiful Truffle, what a splendid life and spirit...she will never leave you, and I am so happy you were altogether as her family, but I am so sad at the news.
Such a heartfelt poem tribute.
Love and hugs over the ocean, the Truffle's in our lives make it so much richer.
So sorry Hearts.
Pam
xoxo
Heart,
I don't often give cats much thought. But Truffle was special, and you are special to me.
So I was thinking about cats and their nature. A cat probably achieves its best self when it leaves the land of the living.
Cats stalk and silent and haunt, and now, barely there, Truffle does this most effectively.
And you will develop a keener eye for what is nearly, and almost, and exquisitely in between.
And I'm sure this doesn't help, and I should just say I'm sorry, but I was thinking about the nature of cats and the nature of you and how nothing ends.
Your Friend,
CJ
Alex and I join you in your loss of Truffle. Cats are people; cats who share our homes are very important people.
Truffle and you are in our thoughts and prayers.
I'm sorry about Truffle.. but know she did her best. She brought her beauty to you - and now she rests.
Don't be surprised if she shows up now and then. I'm sure she will. You'll hear a purr occasionally.. or feel the slight touch of a whisker. She's letting you know she's okay.
CJ is right. Nothing ends. It just changes form.
~*
My deepest sympathies. I'm sure Truffle had the best life any kitty could ask for.
Hugsssssss!
Peace
Our deepest sympathies on your loss.
sorry for your loss. Truffle will certainly live on in this blog as I'm sure in your hearts. Peace.
I am very sorry for the loss of Truffle.
I am so sorry for your loss. What a blow... I wish I was there to just give you a hug and tell you that you loved well, gave a lot and that Truffles will always be there for you.
((hug))
What a beautiful and apropos poem, and what a very sad loss.
Enormous hugs to you, dear lady, and I have every condfidence that your companion will be by to visit you soon.
True friends are always together in spirit, isn't that so?
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
SHG,
Thank you for coming back, and for your kind wishes.
Mojo,
I gratefully accept your hug.
Sister,
If you say it, it must be so.
Crankster,
I'm counting on it.
Daysgoby,
You give me hope. She is gone, but I don't want to lose her.
Pam,
I know how well you understand, and it comforts me.
Cj,
It does help. And perhaps cats do fully attain their true nature when they no longer have to adjust to living with simple-minded humans.
St. Nick and St. Alex,
Thank you for holding us in your thoughts.
Chani,
It's true. Energy cannot cease to be; it simply transforms itself.
Espresso,
I hope so. Truffle was a truly great cat and I believe she gave more than she got.
Odat,
Right back atcha!
Taylor Catsssss,
Thank you for coming by, and for your kind thoughts.
Calvin,
Many thanks, my friend.
Here is a short poem by Yeats which I think you'll like:
To A Squirrel At Kyle-Na-No
Come play with me;
Why should you run
Through the shaking tree
As though I'd a gun
To strike you dead?
When all I would do
Is to scratch your head
And let you go.
Daisy,
Another new kitty face has come to help mourn our Truffle. Thank you!
Claudia,
I am already building her a little shrine in my heart where she will live as long as I do.
Scarlett,
Yeats never made a bad poem.
You really do live up to your real name, you know.
Truffle joins many departed beloved animals whom I dearly hope to see again when my time comes.
My heartfelt sympathies to you. You are right, we are lucky to be able to keep spirits close to us even when the physical bodies pass. Sending more hugs your way.
The place where old friends meet is known as Rainbow Bridge, and there is a poem of the same name.
My heart goes out to you and Flip. It takes time until the good memories overwhelm the recent bad ones. Until then, I am there for you.
{{{Susan}}}
Sorry to hear the news. Yes, I'm sure she'll be back in some shape or form to remind you she hasn't just vanished into oblivion!
besos y abrazos what a loving tribute
Oh that's so sad. I'm sorry. I bet you'll still see her occasionally, out of the corner of your eye.
a,
How nice of you to come by! I followed your link but was unable to open your blog. I'll check back again soon.
Monty,
I know of the Rainbow Bridge and it's a lovely concept. If it's true, I should be knocked down and trampled by all my dearly loved animals someday.
Nick,
Truffle was not the oblivion type. Nor was she oblivious. I hope very much to see her again.
Eslocura,
Besos y abrazos para ti tambien!
Meno,
Like Swee'Pea in Popeye, who was always disappearing around corners in his little nightie.
What a beautiful tribute.
I am so sorry to hear about Truffle. The Sherwood Bunch is sending purrs and purrayers.
It won't help that big ole' Truffle-shaped hole in your heart, but at least you will know we are thinking of you.
So sorry to hear that Truffle has finally gone. Losing pets is so hard, they are so much a part of the family. It was only 6 months ago I farewelled Hamilton - they have a place always in our hearts.
Take care of you.
I'm sorry. Pets are so unconditionally loving, it's a hard loss.
I am so, so, so very sorry, Heart. So very sorry.
I am also sorry to hear of your sad news.
I'm so sorry to read that little Truffle has left us. Sending purrs xx
Alex told me about your recent loss. I am so sorry.
Jen
I'm so sorry. I'd tell you I know how you feel, but I know it doesn't help.
But I do know, and I wish it did.
Take care.
I am sad for your loss. I went and hugged 18-year-old Griffin as a bit of a commemoration of Truffle.
Yeats always works for me, and do give yourself time.
Ml,
It does help, thank you. I'm very touched by all the cat people who have come by for the first time, further proof that people are kind and that Truffle was magical.
Rhubarb,
I'm so sorry about Hamilton. It's still a shock to us that Truffle is not here, where she belongs.
Citizen,
Yes, we could all learn so much from our pets about unconditional love and acceptance.
David.
I know. Thank you, my good friend.
Pam,
I appreciate your kind thoughts, and your visit.
Wicky,
Your purrs are gratefully accepted. Thank you for coming by.
Jen,
Thank you so much. Any friend of Alex's is a friend of mine.
Bob,
It does. You made me smile, which is not easy right now.
Ian,
Please give Griffin another hug for me. Truffle was 18, too, and I meant for her to live forever.
oh truffle... :( putting my dog down was one of the hardest thing ever. maybe Ebony is guiding Truffle through pet heaven.
I'm so sorry, you'll be in my thoughts.
So sorry you lost your friend....Good old WBY to the rescue.
I'm very sorry for this, dear one. Your house is home to several other bright spirits, of course, who will remember Truffle with all the love that is due.
Wng,
Thank you for the love and huggies. They are so needed.
Jameil,
Yes, it was very, very hard. I'm sorry about your Ebony, too.
Craze,
I appreciate it.
Molly,
He is my very favorite of your countrymen.
Jocelyn,
All the love that is due. Yes.
It is a delightful thing to ignore the giants roaming my world. I go where they can not, see what they can not and live in the sun perched where they can not place themselves. How do they survive without nine lives and fur to groom?
Naked giants can't go to the truly enjoyable places under room furnishings, dark corners where I can see without shadows or shelfs set above a warming fire. Poor giants never have the fun I have watching them try to amuse me.
Balls of yarn and little mouses are toys for my prowess to train. I am the example of indifference they try so hard to emulate, foolish giants they are not good at anything catlike.
I will slip out when the door is open and go to the next life I have planned, poor giants...good bye.
So sorry for the loss...
And so thankful that you left us with that beautiful poem...and image emblazed in my head...
Oh no! I'm so sorry. I know Truffle's spirit will be with you always but it's got to be hard for you all. Hugs to you, Heart.
Mark,
It sounds as if you understand cats.
Truffle was most forgiving of our many inferior qualities and seemed to understand that we were limited but well-intentioned.
She even cut us slack most of the time, for which we will be everlastingly grateful.
Pendullum,
Thank you. When in doubt, quote Yeats.
Liz,
Many thanks. We are having a very hard time right now and hugs from friends are most helpful.
Oh Truffle! Oh I'm so sorry. What a lovely poem and how fitting. This makes me want to hug my Peanut.
So sorry to hear about Truffles ((hugs)) - beautiful poem.
What would that track record be like? To *never* have made a bad poem. What an amazing mind and soul... to express like that.
Shhh. I'd endeavor to live up to what you think of me, more than the standard of my name.
All of them will be there, I am sure, and what a time that will be. I wonder which ones will take you where you need to go to meet the others? Does it work like that?
Of course it does.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Sweet Pea,
Please hug Peanut for me, too. He's a world-class dog and I love hearing about him.
Debora,
Thank you so much for coming by!
Scarlett,
I think they'll all be healthy and happy and wondering what took me so long. My ponies will vacuum me for apples and carrots, my blind wolf will be sighted and grinning, my dogs will be jumping all over me and my cats will lead us all where we need to go. Since it's Heaven, even Truffle and Moonshine will be friends.
I know how this feels and I am sorry.......it aches for awhile...and then numbs a wee bit before lodging under the skin and becoming a permanent scar...My thoughts are with you!!!
Wonderful, perfectly apt poem. I am sorry to lose Truffle: she made for wonderful reading, and I imagine you will always have wonderful memories of her.
Im sorry.
I am sorry for your loss, Susan. It's tough to say goodbye to a friend.
Just big hugsxx
My deepest condolences, I know how this is. I too have had to part with a truly loved pet some years ago. Every now and then when I am half asleep I still have the feeling that I sense her leaping up onto the bed as she used to do. I look up and there is nothing of course, but still. As you say a bright spirit...
So sorry. I have loved some family pets more than some family members - it is so hard to say goodbye to them.
So, so sorry. Truffle was a beautiful spirit and wonderful friend. We all miss her.
--- Billie
I came to this obituary late, but wanted to pass on condolences. What is it about we humans that we think ourselves more important, somehow, than all other species. Cats are superior beings. They know things we don't. So sorry for your loss.
Claudia,
Right now it feels like a raw, gaping wound, so I guess I should look forward to my scar tissue.
Thank you for your visit and kind words.
Rachel,
Truffle was quite a character, wasn't she? I still speak to her several times a day, and then I remember.
Lex,
It is, it really is hard.
Meggie,
Hugs are like food for the starving.
Diane,
Maybe she IS leaping up on the bed to visit you. It wouldn't surprise me.
Thank you for coming by today.
Fate,
Yes. We are so much harder to love than they are.
Billie,
It makes me happy that you knew my girl. Thank you for visiting me here.
Peter,
Cats are amazingly prescient and magical.
I have tried my entire life to understand why most humans actually believe we are superior to our four-legged friends. I can't imagine how that rumor got started.
I only drop by once in a while and to land on this... I'm so sorry for your loss!
If you have a chance, check out this blog I put together after we lost our pooch, it's called "Love is a Four-Legged Word" and you can find it at: http://fourleggedlove.wordpress.com, and read the "Rainbow Bridge" tab...
Again so sorry!
Stinkypaw,
Thank you for coming by. I remember you from Soccer Mom's blog, which I read until she went private.
Your animal site is wonderful, and I love the name. I'll be back often.
I have an award for you, so please check out my blog. And I hope the grief is running its course as it should.
Ian,
Oh, goody! Somebody likes me.
Thank you, Ian. I'm thrilled that you find my blog fun to read because it is great fun to write.
I have sooh been there. Carried my Lab in my arms into the little white room and shut the door behind us and looked into his brown eyes and rubbed his head as he went quietly to sleep.
And cried. And carried him home in a cardboard box to be buried between the rose bushes.
August was cruel -- burning hot and the ground hard as rock and I thought I would die as I dug his grave.
Today the scars upon the clay soil have faded and the roses bend their heavy blossoms over his resting place.
Eastcoaster,
It was horribly sad. I had been through it with my wolf and my Samoyed, but it was just as painful every time.
You understand completely, I know.
The roses in your garden must be especially sweet-scented if their source is a Lab. There is no sweeter dog on earth.
I am so sorry! I'm sure she's been back in your hair by now, watching over you as you sleep.
Thank you, Katrice!
I really miss Truffle. She was a very important part of our family for many, many years, and I have always felt closer to my four-legged friends than most people do.
I spread my hair out on the pillow every night, hoping to entice her, and I'm sure that I'll know when she is with me.
Even though this happened awhile ago, I still feel saddened. Losing a beloved animal companion is painful.
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