Vale Miss Tigger

Little Cat

[Vail Miss Tigger, 1989 – April 19th 2006]

I said goodbye to you today, little cat.
Fingers caught on bones when I stroked your fur.
You could scarcely raise your head to drink,
yet still you calmed me with your purr.

Were you comfortable curled on the rug?
And did you know your time drew near?
Your wide brown eyes held gentle love,
and quiet pain, but showed no fear.

You slipped away so quietly
that we weren't sure that you were gone.
Our bouncy little cat is stilled
but your spirit lingers on.

Little ghostcat, where are you?
Are you happy, are you strong?
I feel your warmth, your life, your love
and still can hear your purring song.

(MJ Falango)

I first saw Tigger on the front lawn of Barkly st Brunswick where I was living. She came up to me and had a pat. I saw her a number of times in the empty lot a few doors down. When the dog at our place went to the kennel in the sky, Tigger moved into the back yard the next day. The neighbours called her stupid because she used to sit in their chicken coup and commune with the chickens. Tigger used to wait outside for me to come home from work, and so she really just adopted me.