POETRY ON MEDIUM

Second-Hand Grief

A POEM

My best friend lost his cat today. Suddenly. Bravo was ill, but he was recovering. Getting better. Fighting it out. Brave cat. That’s what we all thought.

The vet said he had a virus. It sounded like cancer when I heard it on the phone. A cancer-causing virus? Who’d have thought of that? There’s a vaccine for this. Bravo was not vaccinated, though.

Sometimes in our lives, things just fall through a crack. It isn’t intentional. It isn’t laziness. It isn’t anyone’s fault. Some things just get lost in the hustle of anxious living. Our urban spaces alienate us from the small tasks of everyday life. One of these interstices opened, and Bravo fell through it.

Bravo died a young cat. He lived a good life. He had good parents. He died without suffering much.

My best friend lost his cat today. Suddenly. A shock. I haven’t spoken to my friend yet. I imagine him howling and wailing. I know he’s in terrible pain. This grief will consume him. His skin will break out. Pimples. He’ll withdraw. Be irritable. Snarky even.

My best friend lost his cat today. He is a cat daddy. Protector and defender of the neighborhood cats. He’s the guy who’ll fight to have cats allowed in the building. Toffee. Coffee. Biskit. Polo. I forget all the names now. I remember meeting at least ten cats. He knew them all, had names for them, held them, fed them, cared for them. Always looked out for the furry ones. Always a better being.

Bravo wasn’t the friendliest cat. But boy, was he beautiful! He was a handsome calico. I don’t think he ever warmed up to me; Haughty, naughty, catty, brave Like his name. When Bravo would prop himself up on his hind legs He had unusual phlebitis — almost cross-shaped Like Christ had blessed him on his chest. Baptized Bravo.

I remember when my best friend got him home. We weren’t really speaking then So, I was informed of it through Instagram. My friend, who is quite proficient socially, He had a host of hashtags to announce Bravo’s arrival. Naughty Bravo Angry Bravo Jealous Bravo Bravo, the Cat.

We anthropomorphize our pets Allow them in our homes and hearts Make room for them in our lives They are the family we choose.

My best friend lost his cat today. He is the family I have chosen And I am not there for him. All I can offer are words of second-hand grief.

Thanks, Susi Moore and The Scriber’s Nook, for sharing my work.