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Goodbye, Odie

Goodbye, Odie My little old cat is dying. His steps are awkward, eyes unfocussed and he cries when he can’t see me. I’m not sure I want to be in a world that doesn’t have my tabby Familiar. I am feeling widowed, again. I’m resigned to be grieving, again outliving another love who is dying. There’s odd comfort in this ache, the strange familiar. I gaze at him imploringly, in tears, unfocussed. He is my greatest love in our small world. He reaches out a snow- capped paw to tap me. Here I go again, making it all about me, fighting to accept death must happen, again. It seems that these past years, this is my world, sitting by the bedside of the dying, as they gaze at unseen figures in the room, unfocussed, but they hear them, and they smile, voices familiar. I push my face in soft ginger fur, the scent familiar. He always smelled like vanilla cookies, to me. Green eyes stare into mine, they’re focussed. I watch as death opaques the life from eyes, again. I hear my husband’s voice as he was dying; “I am tired. It’s time to leave this world.” Death has been a constant in my world, an entity with which I’m too familiar. Such a selfish act on the part of the dying, to love me absolutely, then leave me. I feel the empty chest constriction of grief, again. I clutch a lifeless body, I am unfocussed. I can’t see through tears, unfocussed. Odie leaves a gaping hole in my world. I’ll struggle with condolences, again. My grief is in my chest, pain so familiar. The last time one I loved held on to me while completing the evolution of dying. No longer unfocussed, I rise to greet grief, again, it’s now my world and it enfolds me, my dark, familiar partner in the dance of dying.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 7/27/2024 1:43:00 AM
Your talent for expressing the emotions surrounding the loss of loved ones is truly heartwarming. Thanks for your expressive heart.
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Lacey Jones
Date: 8/9/2024 3:19:00 PM
Thank you so much, Sherry! That's thoughtful of you to take the time to post this.
Date: 6/13/2024 9:34:00 PM
Hi Lacey sending prayers and a huge hug your way may they help you through this difficult time. A very touching tribute, I have been there too. Have a peaceful day.
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Lacey Jones
Date: 6/14/2024 4:30:00 AM
Thank you, Zyrool. Your reaching out is very much appreciated.
Date: 6/13/2024 7:00:00 PM
Hi Lacey Jones, your ability to put into words the passing of loved ones is indeed admired by myself. I was able to read the poem until you mentioned the passing of your Husband, I then had to give my unfocused eyes a rest before continuing. Thank you for sharing. John
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Lacey Jones
Date: 6/13/2024 7:56:00 PM
Thank you so much, John. I feel your empathy.
Date: 6/13/2024 5:01:00 PM
Lovely tribute. I can totally relate.
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Lacey Jones
Date: 6/13/2024 7:57:00 PM
Thank you, Diane
Date: 6/13/2024 3:22:00 PM
Hello Lacey Jones, If I could put my arm through the computer, I would give you a huge hugs. I understand your grief. Our pets are part of the family. I have a cat. i would She has a pancreas, a heart murmur. She is a rescues. I got here when she was 8 years old. She is now 10 years old. Nice to meet you. Enjoy your evening. /Darlene/
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Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 6/14/2024 11:22:00 AM
Hello Lacey, you are welcome. yes I will give my kitty a hug for you. If you need to talk look me up on soup mail. Hugs. /Darlene/
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Lacey Jones
Date: 6/13/2024 7:58:00 PM
Thank you Darlene. Give your kitty a cuddle from me.
Date: 6/13/2024 1:19:00 PM
Sorry to hear about Odie. Touched my heart. Thanks for sharing and hope the process of doing so helps.
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Lacey Jones
Date: 6/13/2024 7:58:00 PM
Thank you, Eric. The sharing really does help.
Date: 3/2/2024 12:27:00 PM
So sorry for your loss. Time is the great healer. Thomas
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Lacey Jones
Date: 3/2/2024 1:30:00 PM
Thank you, Thomas
Date: 2/26/2024 9:59:00 PM
Thank you for sharing your heart with us, Lacey. Welcome to Poetry Soup.
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Lacey Jones
Date: 2/28/2024 7:46:00 AM
Thank you for the welcome, Mark
Date: 2/22/2024 8:26:00 AM
Sadness and inevitability throughout Lacey. "My grief is in my chest, pain so familiar." So powerful. I relate and am so sorry for your losses. :)
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Lacey Jones
Date: 2/22/2024 10:18:00 AM
Thank you, Linda. I am grateful you can relate, that makes the process a bit less lonely.
Date: 2/21/2024 7:37:00 PM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
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Lacey Jones
Date: 2/22/2024 7:37:00 AM
Thank you, Beata
Date: 2/21/2024 6:20:00 PM
So sad to read of your loss in this moving poem Lacey. Welcome to PoetrySoup, Beryl
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Lacey Jones
Date: 2/22/2024 7:38:00 AM
Thank you for the welcome and the condolences, Beryl.
Date: 2/21/2024 5:34:00 PM
Dear Lacey, I'm so deeply moved by your sorrowful poem. Goodbye Odie overflows with emotional grief, love, lost love and tenderness. The repetition of the words "dying", "unfocused", "familiar", and "again" adds great emotional impact to your expressive poignant verse. Your verse "completing the evolution of dying" and "I rise to greet grief--my dark, familiar partner in the dance of dying" was especially striking. Your last line a mournful finale to an impressive and soulful piece. Great first post! Welcome to Poetry Soup. My heartfelt condolences to you, Lacey. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
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Lacey Jones
Date: 2/22/2024 7:39:00 AM
Thank you so much for the warm welcome and the empathic reading of the poem, Susan. I am honoured to be here.
Date: 2/21/2024 12:36:00 PM
Oh, my. I'm in tears. This is such a touching poem.
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Lacey Jones
Date: 2/21/2024 4:09:00 PM
Thank you so much, Chetta! It was hard to write, but so comforting as well.

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