Kateri

Little calico cat; black red and white

Many years ago you stole a piece of my heart

It was so small, i didn't even miss it.

So you hid it and played with it.

You danced around it as tippy toes.

You made fearful noises at it, as erff.

As side-winder, you arched your back

And jumped around it like a bucking horse.

As bushwhacker you attacked it

Out of nowhere.

And as you worked your magic

I never knew what you were doing.

You taught me to pray

 when you wriggled into my  lap

In the cold darkness of a winter dawn.

You taught me to listen when you purred in  my ear

When i wanted to concentrate on important things.

You taught me to share when you insisted

On your portion of my covers.

But most of all,  you taught me to laugh.

As time rolled on, you were always with me,

Traveling five thousand miles in the bottom of a bucket.

Soaring through the air to the envy of the flying nun.

And saying good-by to our dear sasha number one.

Accepting ungraciously,  brothers and a sister.

Grudgingly tolerating  johnny's children.

Talking to nana on the telephone,

Imitating a duck and insisting on treats.

And all the time you were working your spell

The  piece of me that you stole expanded and grew.

Grew  'till it contained all there is.

Expanded with overwhelming  unconditional love.

Stolen from me but still connected

By lines of involvement too subtle to see..

How can we know the great charisms  we're given?

How can we know great graces when they pose

As  a calico cat who sounds like  a duck

Demands treats and talks on phones?

Perhaps we should suspend our critical nature

And accept all in our lives as gifts and graces.

How many have  i  missed?  I shudder to wonder.

But i didn't miss this one , this calico cat.

Little Kateri, the day of our parting

Will come at a time that neither of us knows.

But its been a great run and a barrel of fun

And i know that somewhere  I'll find you again.

For you are too much a part of me to be absent for long

And with that promise I'll end this song.

                11/2/93

Epilogue

Kateri died on November 5, 1993

She was fifteen years  and nineteen days old.

Her kidneys failed

Go little  sweetheart

Find Sasha and play with him

Until we  all come to you.

It won't be too long.

Second epilogue

Tomorrow would have been kateri's 29 birthday

Everyone in my house that knew her is gone nown but me

But I will never forget her