Ratbag ...
Someone (huge apologies, I cannot remember who it was) sent me to a website the other day, and it was all about cats (how unusual !!). Anyway, as I browsed through it, I came across a section entitled Cat Poems. I looked through them, and read them, and cried my eyes out !! One poem in particular, the one I have printed below so you all can have a good cry (if you are that way inclined !!), immediately made me think of my old cat Ratbag, who we had to put to sleep back in October 2004. It was a difficult time, and this poem just made me think of it.
This is a photo of Ratbag, taken back in 1992 ... he was probably only about 5 years old then. He was 16 when he left us.
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If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should wake me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this last battle can't be won.
You will be sad, I'll understand,
But don't let your grief then stay your hand,
For this day more than all the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
What is to come will hold no fears,
You wouldn't want me to suffer, so,
When the time comes, please let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only stay with me, until the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me
Although my tail its last has waved
From pain and suffering I've been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do,
We've been so close - we two - these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
~Author Unknown~
I hope I haven't made you all too sad, I just wanted to share this most beautiful (and very heart-wrenching) poem with you all. Hope you had the tissues ready !!
I'll change the subject here, OK !!
Just a question, for some reason when I open my own blog, my "What's New Pussycat" doesn't seem to be playing. Is it working for you ??
Have a great week.
Take care,
15 comments:
I've read this touching poem somewhere before, but it still made me tear up.
And "What's New, Pussycat" is playing loud and clear for me right now.
Have a great week, Meow!
Hugs,
Diane
Hi Meow that is a beautiful poem.Sadly I have been their once or twice With "Mrs Cat" and Sally the dog. I can hear Whatr's new Pussy Cat playing.
Hugs Margaret
"What's new pussycat" has given me a fright (as usual because I always forget about it!).
Hi Meow, it's very sad to lose a friend as we all have done over the years.
What's new pussycat is playing fine here too, it's funny you ask because I can't hear my song of the week so don't know if it's playing elsewhere.
Hi Meow ~~ Great poem, which I have printed for my neighbour who lost her dog recently. What's New isn't playing for me. Congratulations on 300 posts. Well done, keep up the good work.
The rain was beaut, we got an inch here, but want lots more. Have a great week my friend, Love, Merle.
Oh dear, Meow. The tissues are scattered all around. I haven't had to have a cat put to sleep, my parents have, but I have had a cat killed and it's just as bad.
That poem really touched how I would feel if I had to organise that for Oscar.
Take care.
Hi Meow, that beautiful tearjerker was published in the Cat Protection Society newsletter a few years ago. Are you a member of that group? If you want to shed some more tears, their newsletter provides plenty of reasons! Not just sad and bad stuff, just plain catlovin' articles by people like us!
Loud and clear.
That poem is so sad. I heard the ABC radio vet read it out once. (I think his name is Hugh Worth, right?)
A lovely poem for a fondly remembered friend.
That's such a lovely but sad poem and also reminded me of one of our old cats :(.
Hope you are having a great week Meow.
It wasn't me...
*grabs tissue
Lovely poem *sniffles
No music, nope, I have to admit I click stop on the music or radio program I listen to whilst blogging. Then I turn my speakers off before I visit here as I do with all auto music bloggers.
I know baaad cat!
I wish there was a setting where you could click play when you wanted to hear it. I enjoyed it the first few visits.
It shows how much I love you because most of the auto music bloggers have been removed from my reading list. You are special to me.
I turned them on to see if it worked so I could answer your question. I don't hear anything.
Huggles and Love,
Raggedy
wow, 16 years? he lived a good long kitty life:)
by the way, Ratbag looks beauuuutiful in that photo. I'm sure you know that...
makes me think of my little 'Chubby' in cat-heaven...
Thanks everyone, and sorry if I made you all sad with the poem. I just felt I had to share it, it was so beautiful.
Not sure what's happening with my What's New Pussycat ... some of you are hearing it, others not ... hmmmm. I don't hear it, and the songs on my other blogs I don't hear either. I've been in touch with Ripway, who host the songs ... haven't heard back so far ... am waiting patiently !!
Hope your week is going well.
Take care, Meow
Oh yeah, Tom Jones is signing!
Nice to see Ratbag, he was gorgeous!
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