We Will Not Forget

"Te recuerdo como eras en el ultimo otono..." ---- Pablo Neruda Dawn seems much later -- the nights much longer than they used to be... I am achier, and morning light comes tardy. Our cats and I are in the house and you, alas, are not. Missing you, they mourn, like me, your touch, your voice, lightning looks you aimed our way. The house, the town, the world -- life itself -- are emptier, lacking your zest, the flavor of your presence -- your voice, your smell, the looks in your shining eyes. We will go on, although in ways much changed: without your laugh, your sneer, flashes of your ire and then regretful, rapid calming. We do, and will, still remember, these cats, and I, and we will not forget. No. How could we? The void you left will not be filled and we will not, will not, will not forget.