 Stormy Green Ocean Poems to Mewsette  She looks up at me, All the years of love spilling, Stormy green ocean. 
You, the larger portion of my heart, I the one to share my soul with you - Two of us who couldn't bear to part. If you leave me broken and bereft, You will take my heart and look upon My soul as but an empty thing that's left, For how could I be here if you were gone? If I think about it - Left behind and without you - I must truly doubt it. Wouldn't I be gone then too? Never leave me, love, or if you must, Your spirit and your essense let me keep, That I may struggle on in simple trust You'll come to me again, my love, in sleep. October 2000
~a poem for Mewsette in August~ How she used to glide in grace, Her fluffy tail held high in place, Her movements so serene in her affection. Every dainty stretch and step Both elegant and full of pep, She walked in beauty then, she was perfection. She'd slide from off the sofa so, A pool of liquid calico, And float across the carpet in a blur, Then gather muscles meant to fly And effortlessly jump so high, No top of anything too high for her. The years have stolen youth from her, The shining glory of her fur Diminished, as the color in her eyes, And when she trips on one small stair, It hurts her feelings if you're there- She glances up in horrified surprise. For one with grace so amply blessed, She hates a movement not her best, And growing old is just the smaller part. But grace is not a thing that dies- She's more than perfect in my eyes. She walks in beauty in my very heart. August, 2001 
As a young cat, she was in her prime, Attacking the throw rugs all the time, Clawing and killing those rugs in glee, Her excitement in life such a joy to see, In devilish vigor she'd turn to me... Her eyes were black with double diamonds, Sparkling, flashing double diamonds. Now an old cat and approaching death, Her beauty still makes me catch my breath, I must hold her tightly to give her a pill, Her struggle so sad, for against her will, She turns her little face up to me still... Her eyes are black with double diamonds, Fighting, flashing double diamonds. My love, my heart, how my soul cries At the double diamonds in your eyes. April, 2002
Now you're lying close to me, As if you understand My need to see you, feel you be The shadow of my hand. Now your silken fur is soft, Your love is booming loud, Your aura, in its beauty, has The lightness of a cloud. Now you gaze into my eyes - Some cats would turn away, But you, my love, will hold the look, You have so much to say. Now your warmth is spreading through My cold and broken heart, Storing up the comfort for The days we'll be apart. In time to come, when you're not here, I'll never understand How, in your place, I'll only see The shadow of my hand. November, 2002 
I followed you with my hands, as a baby, Plucked you out of mischief, helped you be good. I followed you with my feet, as a young cat, Scooped you out of danger, left you free as I could. I follow you with my eyes, as an old cat, Watching every movement, for any sign you make that you need me to help you, or just want me to hold you, I watch you when you're sleeping, I count each breath you take. I'll follow you with my heart when you leave me, When the time I fear comes that you're not willing to survive. Through all our many years, I've followed you, my darling, So I can't stop following, as long as I'm alive. January 2004
by Colin Briggs, for my poem "For Mewsette in October". |