Forgive Me, Little One

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Oh, precious little creature, mine, The joy you suffuse my life with is immeasurable! I pray I convey to you in affection And inclusion in all my comings-and-goings, Just how dear you are to this human fool, For I love you as I love my life - The life I would give to save you. Your warm, fuzzy smile is my sun each morn, And your mischief is my compass ... We find our way through the days together, And your soft paws around my arm Wend me to sleep every eve. But oh, how my heart grieves so for you! Oh, how the salty drops have traced my cheek for your sake! To watch you each day at the screen door, Or the window sill in winter, Cracked ever-so-slightly for the air, So your senses can ply the breeze for all its stories - All the tales of birds and creatures, huntable, That you will never chase ... The butterfly games you will never play ... The deep grasses that will never brush your whiskers ... The textures that will never press your pads ... The trees you will never climb ... And the adventures that will unfold only in your dreams. It is a torture that I can never know, Yet my soul yearns to set your yearnings free, And my heart aches for the passions and instincts I MUST deny you. The dangers are too many, my dear little one - Coyotes, foxes, disease, and a busy street, All far too formiddable adversaries, And I am forced, for the sake of your extended life, To confine you to the world of a house cat, And it sickens my spirit so, As I know it crushes yours. I pray you can forgive me, little one, And that somehow, in the sincerity of my love for you, You come to realize that it is JUST that love for you That binds my wrists ... That my love for you and your safety Outweighs your freedom. Can you tell, little one, by the way I look in your eyes? Can you tell by the tenderness of my touch? Can you tell by the way my voice softens Every time I speak to you? Oh, how I pray you can, For I am so heartily sorry, little one, And I love you so ... Forgive me.

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Darren White

Date: 11/6/2017 5:58:00 AM

I can hardly read about poems where Little One is mentioned, with capital first letters... My Little One is a boy, and I miss him so very much, and I doubt if I will ever be able to see him again...

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/6/2017 11:54:00 PM

I pray that somehow you DO see your "Little One" again, Darren, and if I can ever do anything to assist in that, please let me know. Love and friendship are all that really matter in this life, and those special connections are priceless! I hope this spurred a nice memory, and not a sad one. Blessings, Friend. :-) <3

Judith S

Date: 11/5/2017 5:59:00 AM

Awh ... such sweet sentiments Gregory. I also have a furry love and I completely understand. But mine came from the wild and is used to being free :( But in CT we have the same kitty dangers!! Wonderful write and I enjoyed reading it this morning!!! Best, Judy

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/5/2017 11:37:00 PM

Most of my previous cats were Toms who adopted me and showed up starving, (we have an apartment building nearby and they just leave them when they move), so I've had to deal with all the heartbreak that comes with outdoor cats, as there was no way I would confine them, but when I rescued my present two, I decided they would stay indoors and I believe it is far better for their health, (and lifespan), though their little souls long for the outdoors. A sacrifice for kindness' sake. Blessings, Friend - and thank you so! :-)

Russell Sivey

Date: 11/5/2017 4:37:00 AM

The love for you cat is quite evident within your lovable write here my friend! Your tenderness towards the safety of your furry friend is immeasurable! We have a Yorkie and we must keep him in a fenced in back yard whenever he goes out, for his protection...but he too yearns to venture outside this area! But our love for our pets surfaces so much and I just know that our animals understand how much we love them! They are attuned to that! What a brilliant poem Greg about your kitty! Great Work!!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/5/2017 11:48:00 PM

Amen, my friend, and well-said ... they are FAMILY, and we should treat them as such, as I always will. I LOVE Yorkies - so much personality and sweetness! I have spent much time learning how to "talk" to and communicate with my cats, and I may write an article or book about it one day, as I have learned so much. Cats are MUCH more engageing than what most people think. Blessings, Buddy! :-)

Heidi Sands

Date: 11/5/2017 4:14:00 AM

Oh, this is so touching! I can understand completely. Yet, The love you share with your cat is what is most important and it is clear how much your love your cat so much :) Take care.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/5/2017 11:45:00 PM

Oh, thank you so much, Heidi - I have two, and I love them both dearly, but Sugar, (pic above), is my sweetheart - very affectionate and an incredibly sweet spirit - my other, Princess, tries my patience and causes much mischief, (pure Turkish Angora), so it's a bit different with her, but I adore her as well. I'd be lost without them ... truly. Blessings, my friend! <3