Poem

[ Close ]

Ode to Mighty Might (Day After Death)

Written ~ (05/08/26) · Published ~ (Unpublished)

Uploaded ~ (07/03/26)

I see you in the morning sun rays, soaking in the morning glory
Atop your little bed, smiling, happy and dreaming of your story

Though you couldn't speak, you told me so much
You alerted me when Briseis fell out the window—a sweet touch

I did my best to make you comfortable and spend time together
I knew your Achilles’ heel was rain and bad weather

I miss now how when you were scared you hid under my bed
The blanket knew you and your scent is still there, comforted from dread

Now you're gone, but I still see your ghost
The emptiness is what makes me miss you most

Of course there is regret I won't hide
I wish we played more, I let the sun in a bit longer, before you died

You were really the perfect pet
I'm so very grateful that we met

I remember, the memory so vividly of how you chose me
You were in a little cage, scared in corner—so afraid, like a young detainee

There was another cat, who was upfront and vocal
His color was orange though, so I knew he was focal

But I saw you, with your big eyes and tiny black head
I brought you forward and you meowed, not knowing what you said

You were so fuzzy and soft, and so sweet and dear
I put you on my shoulder Mighty Might, remember? You kissed my ear.

It was then I knew, I chose you too
But it was October and your color made it hard to adopt due...

... to wicked ones that burn black cats to false gods
But I had a reputation for loving black cats, and was granted to take you against all odds

That is when our journey began, my little sidekick and buddy
You played fantasy adventures with me, played tag, and oh so cuddly

I recall when you stole my chair, you punked me, you furry little jerk
But I didn't care... I laughed and was so proud, got another chair, and it worked

You sat then next to me, in your own chair and supported whatever I did
Well, actually, you slept a lot lol, but you slept next to me as a kid

In your prime, people were terrified of you—scratches and teeth and claws
Your presence terrified so many, so afraid of so plenty—so fierce and raw

You scratched the eye of a nurse, tore my mom's arm
Scratched my dad's shoulder, and sent many away harmed

You attacked a misbehaved child, made her cry
Literally cut in front of my nephew to swipe at him, as he ran by

Attacked my brother's face when he reached to pet
There were so many warnings about you in the system at the vet

They closed every door, in case you tried to escape—that fear held such weight
If you were angry and anyone crossed you, they had a horrible fate

I was so proud of it all—and never ashamed
You were the fighter that was so aptly named

Your poor little body, cursed with immune disease at birth
It wasn't your fault, that the hand you were dealt, was the worst

Your rodent ulcers and constant bleeding were so bad
I tried so hard to stop it all, your suffering made me so sad

I recall when you bled in the bathroom, like a murder scene
I couldn't believe the gore everywhere—so obscene

So much money spent on drugs to fight this curse
But they didn't do much, only slowly got worse

But no matter the fear you instilled, the doctors so greatly cared
They helped guide me to better nutrition, and saw you, no matter how scared

At 14, sweet little one, they said you were probably through
But I knew you wanted to fight, and I understood what to do

It cost so much, but we found the cure
Your diet needed changing, it needed to be more pure

Your bleeding stopped and the ulcers slept
It would be 5 years later, before I wept

You and I grew old, sweet little boy
You still had fight, but not the energy to chase the toy

My life grew busy, and complacent with all it had
But I knew you were always there, and I was always so glad

When your arthritis finally got to you, and made it hurt
I saw your depression, and I got to work

I found cat stairs to help you gain access to every platform
Every single place you used to stay, where you always would perform

Instantly you perked up, and entirely changed to the bright little boy again
Maybe not as energetic, but it certainly wasn't the end

I recall, when I went on vacation, you were depressed
When I got home, you couldn't stop talking—you released all the stress

You didn't understand how to give a hug, but I knew you wanted to
So I pet you and gave you love—kissing you on your head too

I knew then that time apart had to be carefully planned
Because you didn't just let anyone in my house, your presence was grand

I recall too, when you protected me from my nephew
He slept over, when he entered my room, you growled—letting him know what you would do

My most vivid memory was when you showed so much care
My training was killing me, causing so much stress—it was so unfair

I woke up pissed, and yelling and screaming, and felt so down
At first, it scared you, but you came to me—meowing, and turned everything around

I knew you didn't understand, but only knew
Something was not right, and I was the one you had to go to

So you weren't afraid of me, with all the loud
You understood I loved you, and was so proud

I then pet you, and thanked you for being
You brought me peace, through my seething

There is much to write and to tell
I have told it all—so many stories, rich with detail

We grew older little buddy, and your body did too
You had white little hairs and white whiskers showing through

I knew our time would eventually end, but I thought we had more
The lesson of life: it always, eventually destroys and will never restore

Your final years consisted of pets and cuddles and love and snuggles
Spoiled with tuna and milk to comfort through your struggles

It wasn't as active as it used to be
But I didn't care, because you always meant so much to me

The food was financially draining, the vomit and gagging so stressful
It was your health I was maintaining, but it stopped the bleeding, so it was successful

But we kept growing older little buddy, and your body couldn't keep up
I miss you so badly right now, I wish it was just a dream and I would wake up

I knew months before that we were on borrowed time
I gave you snacks and wrote you rhymes

Then one day, out of the blue, you started gagging colors never before seen
I didn't know what to do, the bile so unclean

I understood that that the body was old and you would cough
Though I didn't see it coming, what that cough would have brought

You struggled to walk baby boy, you were so sore
But you still greeted me, every time... I walked through that door

I miss your meowing, sweet baby boy
I miss the joy you employ

The day came, when you couldn't any longer and I knew
when I brought you to the vet, and fighting you didn't want to

They were grateful, and greeted you with smiles so sincere
But when you didn't fight them, it was clear how severe

We came home, I felt alone though you were there
I hated how we aged, and felt life so unfair

You and I spent the evening together, and morning too
I hugged you so tightly, you curled in so delightfully, like you knew what we had to do

That was our goodbye, after the headbutts, soft pets and kiss
That was you telling me and me telling you, that we know what we'll miss

I had hoped though, sweet little baby boy—that they could find something, anything
I wanted you to come home, knowing it wouldn't last, but something is better than nothing

I had them do their tests, and give fluids to make feel better—to feel anew
But they gave me that call, and told me my sweet baby boy had bad news

The body was fighting two cancers, failing kidneys, arthritis, auto-immune disease, and now, a hole in the intestine—a worsening condition
I still held back, asking questions, pleading for any hopeful kind of direction

They understood I didn't want to say "Goodbye", and tried to console
But I wouldn't hurt you Mighty Might, I wouldn't make you suffer if you weren't whole

May 7, 2026, yesterday I drove the drive I had feared so long
It was to go to you, one last time, and it felt so wrong

I had shed my tears that prior eve
I guess my soul just refused to believe

There you were though, growling again at them as usual
I was so proud, there you were, my little baby boy, so beautiful

With your black, shining and silky fur
So many people wanted to pet, but you would strike as quick as a blur

There on that day, I knew it was finally goodbye
I struggled to hold back, but couldn't help shedding some tears as I fought to cry

They put the shot in you, to make you comfortable the next little while
I held you in my arms, telling you how much I loved you and felt your purring smile

When I met you, you were so tiny, you fit in the palm of my hand
Now your adult body, relaxing in mine, breathing softly—felt so grand

It was stressful, our many years and the places we've been
But from all the joy and peace you brought me, I would do it all over again

But I can't now, such is life, so I write this farewell to you to send
Sweet baby boy, I love you, it is time to say goodbye—after 18 years, it is finally, the end