It seems so long ago now,
that wonderful day when you picked me out
you hopped up on my lap ... and I never had a chance!
"The gray and white friendly one?" asked the girl at the desk
and so our time together had begun
my life then was such a lonely road
but you filled it up with love
and taught me that true loneliness
lay only at the center of an empty heart
and that one need only reach out
and touch the soft willing paw or pat the purring head
to know that we are alone only by choice
and how those years sped by, my friend
and you saw me through so much
your body shrank and grew - and shrank again
but never was changed that which was truly you
the eternal purr, the endless need for love
and the patient, insistent willingness to give it back
as our family grew and grew and the love around us as well
you accepted us all and became a true friend -
though somewhat begrudgingly to that lop eared silly pooch
who ate your food and played with your toys - and acted like a clown
She too senses you're not around ...
and as the days grew shorter and your time to leave us approached
never did you seem to be hurting, though you were
you wouldn't demand anything more than to cuddle up on a warm lap
still, you made us smile - your old tired body failing
but the same clear eyes - and the eternal vibrato of your purr
made everything seem alright
I feel you here tonight, my old friend
and I see in the faces of those gathered here the gentleness you inspired -
a little of you is in all of us - that which will make you live on forever -
that which you intended to be your final gift
before you took your flight to that place of no pain
no fear and eternal peace - there you wait
for that day when we all will be together again
I have no fear of dying now - you'll be there, just like you were so
many years ago - and once again you'll pick me out -
and show me around that beautiful place - where together
we'll set forth for the shores of heaven
as we celebrate the great love of God that can exist
in any creature who, with a willing heart and the need to be loved
seeks out the true meaning of God: and that is love
and that will always be
Alan Hohman