there was a softness
of your leaving
that touched my heart
it was how
you lived your life
softly
entering my life
as a three-month-old kitten
with a tiny mew
your extra toes
making your paws
into soft, white mittens
your playfulness
right up through
your years
all the time
my black and white
shadow
choosing me
as your person
to love, to trust
the snuggles
the purrs
the slow blinks of love
jumping
to my lap
wherever I sat down
intently
looking at nature, light, life
my studio buddy
melting, together
during tough times
morning cello
comforting me
through major life losses
with quiet love
each time
purring your love out
constant, knowing
at the end
you looked me in the eye
as I poured my love out
purring deeper
and deeper still
head pressing, paw pushing
and then
when I’d sing you to sleep
you would purr-sing back
and my heart
exploded into a million tiny pieces of love
soaring into the night sky
each piece
sending a shower of new stars
into the ebony sky
a fire-work
turns meteor-shower
of love
music and purring
were our
love languages
and touch
me petting, cuddling
you, your paw, your head
there was a softness
of your leaving
that was my heart
