Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger

A couple of years ago, Jonathan highlighted a “Pet of the Week” post on Sundays.  This Saturday before Easter, I’d like to return to highlighting a pet of the week–my cat Abby. Abby was a gift given to my daughter Sara by her high school boyfriend when she was a junior. Sara’s boyfriend got Abby for her after we had to have Amber, the cat my husband and I gave our daughter for her eighth birthday, put to sleep. (Amber had cancer, had difficulty walking, and was barely able to eat.)

Sadly, this week, we had to have Abby put to sleep. It was a decision that had to be made. I was at my daughter’s house late Monday night when my husband called with the news that Abby was in distress. He wanted to know where the nearest animal hospital that provided 24-hour emergency services was located. Fortunately, my daughter and son-in-law knew of an excellent veterinary hospital not too far from our house where they had to take their dog Jack last year when he suffered from heat stress. Like Amber, Abby had been having some difficulty walking recently. She also had a heart murmur and congestive heart failure. I’m glad that she didn’t suffer for long.

It is often difficult to put into words the effect that loved ones—including our pets—have on our lives. Abby became MY cat after my daughter went off to college in 1998. Abby could often be found at my side—when I read the morning newspaper, when I worked at my computer, when I watched television, when I sat outside in the sun on the back deck reading books. She often slept next to me in bed. She was great company for me when my husband spent time away from home on extended business trips. Abby was my furry little friend who provided comfort to me when I suffered the loss of family members and friends over the years.

Since April is National Poetry Month, I thought I’d post two poems I wrote that were inspired by Abby. The first is a Fib, a poem of six lines and twenty syllables based on the Fibonnaci sequence (1/1/2/3/5/8). The Fib was invented by Gregory Pincus, a poet and screenwriter. Pincus made the “Fib” popular in 2006 when he posted about his new poetic form on his blog GottaBook. My second poem, I’m Cat, is called a mask poem. In it I speak in the voice of my cat Abby.

Here are my poems in memory of my cat Abby:

Cat

Soft

Furry

Purry friend

Cuddler on the couch

My comforter curled beside me

I’M CAT

I’m cat.

Come pat

My head.

I’ll purr.

Please stroke

My thick

And silky fur.

I’m clean,

Serene.

I lick.

I preen.

I’m naughty…

Haughty.

I’m the queen.

R.I.P.

Abby