So This, My Cat

So this, my cat, my confidante, my friend His bed, empty now, I cannot discard A photograph now on the mantel’s end Beside his toy and a sympathy card How long the wait, in this vast empty space Till small sounds spare me the notion he’s back Yet still shall I ready this special place For friend and casket and polished brass plaque You say he’s only a cat and he's dead Still I make space midst old friends on this shelf What notions strange and cold dwell in your head When you have no love but that for yourself Make light of my grieving if that you must My cat I loved: As for you… not too fussed!