Paddy O'brien

While making pictures with the clouds
I saw a lion with mane so proud,
so peaceful looking at me -
little did I realize
(when I could not stop my eyes from finding him)
that you were he -
It sounds so impossible,
so incredible,
that you're not around to do
all that we did together
be it in fun or confidence.
But now -
how could one so small
leave such a huge emptiness?
I just blinked,
turned my head
and my lion separated into nothingness.

This poem was written about my cat Paddy O'brien who died in 1971.  I had been out of town and when I returned, my mom broke the news to me.  After she told me the time he died, I realized it was at the exact same time that I was driving home...making pictures with the clouds.

Comments

[paisley]

oh june,, that was such a prolific write.. i loved the explanation and the feeling that the cloud created in you... it is almost as if paddy was saying good bye... so lovely.....

[bluemountainmama]

wow! that's the only word i can think of. i am a cat person, and know they leave indelible marks in our hearts. very evocative poem...

by the way, if you need a new little furry friend, one wondered up to our house last week..a little tortoiseshell.:) i think she was dropped. i can't let her in b/c of my husband's allergies, but have been feeding her and put a box out for her. but she just sits outside our sliding glass doors and whines all day. pretty pitiful! i hope i can find a home for her.

[colleen]

I remember this and asking you how the cat got such an Irish name. I think you said it came with it.

We have ice coming tomorrow evening. I hope Josh can get one descent day of hobnobbing in before it does.

[CountryDew]

I enjoyed that poem very much, though it made me a little sad! Nice name for a cat, though.

[sandy kessler]

I love the poem and the thought .. and Escher whom my students loved in the classroom especially the eyeball..ski

[Kerri]

Ah June, this is so lovely! It made me cry....it is amazing the marks our pets leave on our hearts!

I'm glad you are in Sunny Florida.... we have a freezing rain advisory today...and I think Floyd has an ice storm warning. BRRRR....send some of that warm weather our way :)

[sandy kessler]

do you have a cat now?I have excellent kittens 4

[Crafty Green Poet]

I too make pictures from the clouds and I've seen our lost rabbit up there too, sad poem