Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven there is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends, so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and confortable.

All the animals who have been ill or old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt are made whole and strong agian, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, exceptfor one small thing; they miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but some day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent; her eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long from your life but never absent from your heart.

                        Then you cross the rainbow bridge together.

                                                           (rose is rose)

The purry gates (anon)

It seems that I've reached heaven, or its doorstep at any rate.

And been winding round St Peter's ankles by the pearly gates.

I've plucked the angels' harp-strings and made a merry sound.

But it's plucking at my heartstrings that you are not around.

So I think I'll sit and wait here, just outside the door.

And as the souls come floating in, I'll tap them with my paw,

And when you seek admittance, they'll rename this place -

It will become purradise, and these the purry gates!

From rainbow bridge

Weep not for me though I am gone

            Into that gentle night.

Grieve if you will, but not for long

            Upon my soul’s sweet flight.

I am at peace, my soul’s at rest

            There is no need for tears.

For with your love I was so blessed

            For all those many years.

There is no pain, I suffer not,

            The fear is now all gone.

Put all these things out of your thougts,

            In your memory I will live on.

Remember not my fight for breath,

            Remember not the strife.

Please do not dwell upon my death

            But celebrate my life.

I Stood Beside Your Bed Last Night

 I stood beside your bed last night. I came to have a peek.

 I could see that you were crying, and you found it hard to sleep.

 I "spoke" to you softly as you brushed away a tear:

 "It's me, I haven't left you. I'm well. I'm fine. I'm here."

 I was close to you at breakfast as you slowly sipped your tea.

 You were thinking of the many times your hands reached down to me.

 I was with you at the shops today. Your arms were getting sore.

 I longed to take your parcels. I wished I could do more.

 I was with you at my grave today. You tend it with such care.

 I want to reassure you that I'm not lying there.

 I walked towards home beside you as you fumbled for your key.

 I gently touched you with a paw and softly "said" "It's me."

 You looked so very tired as you sank into a chair.

 I tried so hard to let you know that I was standing there.

 It's possible for me to be so near you every day. ]

 To say to you with certainty "I never went away."

 As you sat there very quietly, you smiled and then you knew...

 in the stillness of the evening that I was very close to you.

 The day is over and as I watch you yawning, I say "Good night,

 God bless and I'll see you in the morning."

 And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,

 I'll rush across to greet you and we'll again stand side by side.

 I have a lot to show you, so much for you to see. Be patient,

 live your journey out... then come home to be with me.

 Author Unknown

I know what you're thinking. You think I'm dead. Because you cannot

see me with your human eye, cannot feel me, with your hands or hold

me in your arms. You think I am gone forever.

You recall how I looked when I left this place and you cannot

remotely imagine that I could possibly be alive in another place.

You are racked and torn by the pain of our separation and it blinds

you to that which is right in front of you ... me.

How many times since I left your immediate sight have you been told

that I'm dead and you should "get over it"... How many times have you

cried yourself to sleep because you feel like an outcast, believing

you're supposed to get over me because that's what people say is

normal... but somehow you can't and no one seems to understand?

How many times have you put yourself through such excruciating pain

because you aren't willing to consider that I am not, by any means,

dead.

I want you to do me a favour and go back in time with me. Remember

the glorious day I came into your home- was I not the most intriguing

creature you'd ever met? Did I not make you laugh and giggle?

Did I not look at you with such adoration that you wanted nothing

more than to spend the rest of your life with me? I wanted this too.

Remember the days when I was in my prime and we did many things

together. You were so proud of me! I was a good friend and I took

care of you when you cried, were angry or felt down and unhappy.

When you didn't have a lot of time for me because of your

obligations, I waited patiently for you. I was always there when you

needed me. Did I not look at you with such acceptance and patience

that at times you felt perhaps a bit unworthy? You were never

unworthy in my eyes.

Remember when age crept up on me, my bones became stiff and my

movements slower. Still I met you at the door when you came home and

followed you around the house. We'd been together for so long, I was

your very best friend regardless of what you were doing, saying,

thinking. Did I not look at you with such kindness and understanding

that you felt overwhelmed? I couldn't get enough of you.

Remember the last time we saw each other with earthly eyes? You tried

to be brave but I knew you were crying ... I know you so well. Better

than anyone else in the whole world. Did I not look at you with such

pure trust and love that you yearned only to hold me close and keep

me with you always? Did you not promise that you would love me

forever? I believed you. If this is so then why have you let me go by

thinking I no longer exist?

Remember the depth in my eyes all those times I looked at you with

adoration, acceptance, patience, trust and love. Who created this

depth and love? Would the Creator diminish the song of our laughter

which was created in the name of love? I am no longer an earthly

figure, this is true. My body was only part of who I really am. My

body would have been but a mere shell on earth if it were not filled

to overflowing with my soul, my spirit, my loving light.

When we met you thought I was cute, sweet, pretty and adorable. But

what kind of relationship would we have had if this is all that I'd

been? How could you have loved me if I'd had no spiritual substance?

We are all made up of energy which resides far deep down inside of

us, it is our core, our soul, spirit and loving light. It is the

energy that is all of life ... it has no beginning, it has no end. It

simply is and always will be and without it there is no life. You

can't see it with the naked eye nor can you hold it in your hand, it

is simply a certain knowing that this energy does exist. It's a

knowing just as you know that our love existed on earth -

you couldn't see our love in a solid sense, you couldn't gather it

all up and confine it to one place. But you *knew* it existed. There

was no doubt in your mind.They demand you get over me, insisting that

I'm dead and you'll never see me again because animals don't go to

Heaven. Oh really? I'm here to tell you different. You were worthy of

my love and undying devotion on earth as I was of yours. Do you

really believe this love would be snatched from us *forever* by a

loving Creator simply because I wasn't human? Was I not a

living, breathing creation with personality? How could I have been so

if I didn't possess the energy of soul, spirit and loving light? And

if this energy is and always will be, then how can it be that I am

dead? If my core is not of the energy that is all of life then I was

never alive to begin with.

But you know better.You cry because you miss me, this I understand. I

miss you too - I miss the belly rubs, hugs and kisses that we shared.

But life does go on beyond these wonderful, fulfilling physical

connections. I came to this place to live a whole new life, not

because I didn't love you anymore or because I wanted something

better. I came here because it was time for me to go to the next

phase of my existence, something all living creatures must do

eventually. It is the normal progression of life. I was not taken

away from you because you cannot take away that which was never

owned. My presence in your life was and is a gift to be cherished and

honoured just as I cherish and honour you.

Life is not simply about being born into a body, living a certain

number of years and then dying. Energy cannot die. We are blessed

with time in a body so that we can learn, share and grow. It prepares

us for the next phase of our eternal life. The body holds within it

the true life force of our existence ...our soul, spirit and loving

light. Without these our bodies would be empty, blank, void of

feeling and expression. Without our energy we would indeed be dead

and could never have experienced our love for each other.

You say that all you have left are memories. Not so. You see, when I

took leave of my earthly body I left a little something behind for

you. You can't touch it, hold it or examine it. For what I left

behind is far too uninhibited for confinement. I left behind a piece

of my soul. I placed it right next to your own which is quite fitting

as we were always side by side in our earthly life together. I love

you too much to have left you with nothing but memories which tend to

fade and grow cloudy as the years go by. I love you too much to have

vanished without a trace. How selfish it would be of me to remove

love and light from your life. I understand your tears, each one you

shed is testament to your love for me and I am honoured and humbled.

But don't forget the good things we shared -

Remember and smile. This is an honour for me as well. And when you

need me I will be here. Close your eyes, relax, take slow, deep

breaths and picture me in your mind. Shut off the world and your

notions of what death is and give me a chance. Look for the subtle

signs I send you. Don't stop being proud of me, I am a friend to be

proud of, I am still your friend and soul mate. Don't memorialise the

death of my body but instead honour and celebrate my never-ending

life for it is eternal and forever as is my love for you.

Until we meet again...

Van Aukje:

Gisteren toverde ik een trapje,

Van hier tot aan de regenboog.

Dan kan elk dier om middernacht

Nog even naar het baasje terug.

Kijk dan lieverd,

Kijk dan toch mee,

Daar komt tussen al diertjes

Ook jou lieverd naar benee.

Zie je haar komen?

Wat rent ze hard.

Ze weet dat je wacht,

Met liefde in je hart.

Ze springt in je armen,

Jij kust haar, zij likt terug.

En laat jou met die kus weten,

Ik mis je daar bij de Regenboog!

            Into the freedom of wind and sunshine,

                        We let you go.

            Into the dance of the stars and the planets,

                        We let you go.

            Into the wind's breath and the hands of the star maker.

                        We let you go.

            We love you, we miss you, we want you to be happy,

                        Go safely, go dancing, go running home.

My best friend                      

She can hear me

She can sense me

Together we are one

No greater friend could one have had

Since god made earth

And warmed it with the sun.

At night she lay upon my bed

From night time until dawn

And if one day she wasn't there

Pangs of pain would fill my heart

With sorrow and forlorn

But in heaven we would meet again

This time our togetherness would last for ever and ever

Never to part again, never never.

This, she, that i refer to

Is silky, my faithful friend.

I know because god had told me

Our love will never end.

To spring like lightning

And to my bosom cling

Makes this unfeline sound

Looks into my eyes and start to sing

The purrs she makes are deep and harsh,

It could be purrs of happiness,

It could be just a laugh!

But the feeling that is between us

That draws our love together

And like the presence of the holy ghost,

Our love will last forever.

                        Mrs. V.k. Bull

De dood is niets

Ik ben maar aan de andere kant

Ik ben mijzelf

Jij bent jijzelf

Wat we waren voor mekaar

Zijn we nog altijd

Noem me zoals je me steeds genoemd hebt

Spreek tegen mij,zoals weleer

Op dezelfde toon

Niet plechtig,niet triest

Lach om wat ons samen heeft doen lachen

Bid, glimlach

Denk aan mij

Bid met mij

Spreek mijn naam uit thuis

Zoals je altijd gedaan hebt

Zonder hem te benadrukken

Zonder zweem van droefheid

Het leven is wat altijd geweest is

De draad is niet gebroken

Waarom zou ik uit je gedachten zijn?

Omdat je me niet meer ziet

Neen,jij bent niet ver

Juist aan de andere kant van de weg

Zie je,alles is goed

Je zult mijn hart opnieuw ontdekken

En er de tederheid terugvinden

Zuiverder dan ooit

Dus droog je tranen

En ween niet als je van me houdt

Augustinus

Time may pass and fade away

Silent thoughts and memories stay

Till we meet again

                                               *****

Je bent niet dood

Die in mijn hart blijft leven,

Het is de stilte eromheen

Die het verdriet blijft geven,

Totdat, zelf gearriveerd bij de regenboogbrug,

We blij zullen roepen: oh, wat heerlijk, je bent terug!

                                               ******

Mosche:

May I go now?

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days

and endless lonely nights?

I've lived my life and done my best,

an example tried to be.
So I can take that step beyond

and set my spirit free?

I didn't want to go at first.

I fought with all my might.

But something seems to draw me now

to a warm and living light.

I want to go,

I really do.

It's difficult to stay.

But I will try as best I can

to live just one more day.

To give you time to care for me

and share your love and fears.

I know you're sad and afraid,

because I see your tears.

I'll not be far,

I promise that, and hope you'll always know

that my spirit will be close to you,

wherever you may go.

Thank you so for loving me.

You know I love you too.

That’s why it's hard to say goodbye

and end this life with you.

So hold me now just one more time

and let me hear you say,

because you care so much for me,

you 'll let me go today...

Time for me to go now, I won't say goodbye

Look for me in rainbows, way up in the sky

In the morning sunrise, when alle the world is new

Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you

Time for me to leave you, I won't say goodbye

Look for me in rainbows, high up in the sky

In the evening sunset, when all the world is through

Just look for me and love me, and I'll be close to you

It won't be forever, the day will come and then

My loving arms will hold you, when we meet again

Time for us to part now, we won't say goodbye

Look for me in rainbouws, shining in the sky

Every waking moment, and all your whole life through

Just look for me and love me, as you knouw I loved you

Just wish me to be near you

And I'll be there with you

JENNIFER 1973-1992

Farewell, our little Jenny-fur,

May you have gone to one long purr.

Rest here in peace, and while you do

We’ll plant some catnip here for you.

                        JENNY:

Rest here, my foot! – I’m young again,

Young – to enjoy the sun and rain,

There are no shots, there is no pain,

Where I am gone.

I’m Free  - to race about het house,

I’m free, to chase the errant mouse,

To look for gerbils, hamsters too

Ánd all things I used to do.

My new mink coat is sleek and warm –

The old had got so thin and worn –

My step is light, my eyes are bright,

I’m altogether back in form.

I love to play, and win instead,

Wrestling with ming upon your bed,

To climb the drapes and down again

While Ming and Tahshi do the same.

I jump just like I used to do –

At least as high, and higher too

And when I make it not as high

Can chin myself on some silk tie.

I ride your shoulders, now and then,

Lie on your desk and nudge your pen,

Sit on your knee and flex my claws,

Sit  by the fire and wash my paws.

It’s pleasant, lying here below

Watching my old friends come and go,

I’m pleased to see you, every one

But when Georgina comes – I know.

For it was she, that first found me

Out there, shivering, in the snow.

She picked me up, she soothed my fears,

And took me home – for eighteen years.

But now I’m gone – you know not where,

Where I have gone, it’s fresh and fair.

I know, some day, you’ll meet me there,

And when you come, I’ll come to you.

R.I.P. Jenny – you little rip –

(Seanair, Melbourne June 1 1992)s

Je vind geen woorden voor je zieke maatje,

van wie je weet, hij redt het niet.

Je streelt zijn kopje, je ziet zijn ogen,

je bent bevangen door verdriet.

Toch ben je dankbaar voor z'n einde,

dat na zoveel moedig strijden kwam,

omdat het niet alleen zijn leven op aarde,

maar ook zijn lijden overnam.

Ruby

Jij klein  wonder,

je kwam zo heel bijzonder,

als een sprookje uit duizend en één nacht

heb je vreugde bij ons naar binnen gebracht.

Nu missen we je snoetje met die prachtige ogen

en zijn telkens door verdriet bewogen,

want, helaas het afscheid kwam nabij,

alleen de herinnering aan jou maakt ons blij.

soms kon ik stilletjes naar je kijken,

dan genoot ik heel intens

begon vol bewondering op jou te lijken.

Ik werd meer kat en jij meer mens.

Er was oogcontact als je me aankeek

en ik voel nog jouw kopje op m'n arm

als je na het wassen neerstreek

op schoot, tevreden spinnend, heerlijk warm!

Zo samen in ons paradijsje

aandoenlijk knus en amusant,

maakten wij ons wereldreisje

op weg naar kattendromenland!

                                   (M. Duizendstra-Beyer)

                                   *****

OUR WORLD FELL APART WHEN WE LOST YOU,

            BUT YOU DIDN'T GO ALONE.

FOR PART OF US WENT WITH YOU,

            THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME.

            SLEEP TIGHT, LITTLE ANGEL.

                                   (Maureen en Frances)

                                               ************

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP

            I AM NOT THERE; I DO NOT SLEEP.

I AM A THOUSAND WINDS THAT BLOW.

I AM THE DIAMONDS GLINTS ON SNOW.

I AM THE SUNLIGHT ON REPERED GRAIN.

            I AM THE GENTLE AUTUMN RAIN

WHEN YOU AWAKEN IN THE MORING’S HUSH,

            I AM THE SWIFT UPLIFTING RUSH

            OF QUIET BIRDS IN CIRCLED FLIGHT.

I AM THE SOFT STARS THAT SHINE AT NIGHT.

            DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND CRY;

                        I AM NOT THERE; I DID NOT DIE.

THIS DAY COMES WITH SAD REGERT,

            IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES I'LL NEVER FORGET.

YOU FELL ASLEEP WITHOUT GOODBYE,

            BUT MEMORIES OF YOU WILL NEVER DIE.

NO MORE PAIN, AT PEACE NOW FOREVER.

                                                           ***************

*          SNOWY

Jij klein wit wonder,

je kwam zo heel bijzonder,

als een sprookje uit duizend en één nacht

heb je vreugde bij ons naar binnen gebracht.

Nu missen we je snoetje met die prachtige ogen

en zijn telkens door verdriet bewogen,

want, helaas het afscheid kwam nabij,

alleen de herinnering aan jou maakt ons blij.

soms kon ik stilletjes naar je kijken,

dan genoot ik heel intens

begon vol bewondering op jou te lijken.

Ik werd meer kat en jij meer mens.

Er was oogcontact als je me aankeek

en ik voel nog jouw kopje op m'n arm

als je na het wassen neerstreek

op schoot, tevreden spinnend, heerlijk warm!

Zo samen in ons paradijsje

aandoenlijk knus en amusant,

maakten wij ons wereldreisje

op weg naar kattendromenland!

                                   (M. Duizendstra-Beyer)

                                   *****

Straks:

Als ik straks oud ben, ziek en zwak,

en pijn verjaagt de slaap,

als onrust neemt van mij bezit,

doe dan wat onvermijdelijke is,

en laat me gaan:

de laatste goede daad.

Beslis voor mij

en wees niet laf.

Past eigenliefde bij de vriendschap die ik gaf,

of uitstel tot het beter past,

bij een verloren strijd?

Ik ben niet bang

tijdens die laatste gang.

Jij loopt niet weg:

je kijkt me aan

je noemt mij bij de liefste naam

en houdt me stevig vast.

Vandaag voor het laatst

groet ik je met mijn kattestaart...

Wat jij liet doen

deed je voor mij:

je hebt me nog meer pijn bespaard,

voor zinloos lijden mij bewaard.

Een zwaar besluit?

- nee, huil nu niet-

een wijs besluit,

dat werd gegrond

op een oud en uniek verbond

de liefde tussen mens en dier.

It's Just a Dog

Just a dog, just a cat
Just an animal, lazy and fat
Just get over it, just get another
It's not like it's your son or mother

Fools around me speak in shame
Never knowing my pet's name
They roll their eyes, they dub me weak
They treat me like my loss is cheap

Had I lost my arm or lost my sight
Then my sorrow would be worthy and right
But I'd give my arm, my leg, and my home
To have her back and not be alone

My synthetic smile so wry and charming
Hides a growing outburst that's so alarming
I choke back words to defend my tears
Because they would fall only on deaf ears

It's sad that they have never shared
A love so pure and uncompared
Though my heart bleeds from a cut so deep
Their hearts stay cold in stagnant sleep

Just a cat, just a dog
Just a friend with whom to jog
Just someone standing by my side
When life brings on it's bumpy ride

Just a reason to hope and believe
That not every creature has something up it's sleeve
Just someone with whom to chat
My dog, my friend, my family, my cat

-Author Unknown

RAMBO

Opeens was daar 8 juli, verraderlijk bestaan

De embolie tikte aan, tijd om te gaan

Rambo verliezen, stil verdriet...

En het leven zijn lichaam verliet...

Je bent gegaan naar een plaats niet ver van hier,

Waar het warm is en een plaats van plezier.

Waar het gras groen is en de lucht zo blauw,

Dat alles wil zeggen dat ik van je hou.

Een plaats waar je bent met katten hier en daar,

Met vredevol gespin, eender waar.

Daar zijn kattenbrokjes tot aan de lucht

En waterkommetjes voor een drink in een zucht

En waar er muizen zijn om te jagen

Maar niet gegeten worden, juist maar om te plagen.

Je lichaam eens gewond en zonder leven...

Je lichaam terug gezond en weer vol leven...

En rennend door het kattenkruid,

Neemt het je mee naar het blauwe water, voluit

Waar de katten kunnen zwemmen maar blijven droog

En grote bomen om te klimmen, héél hoog.

Maar iets mis ik, denk je, als je gaat over het pad,

Opeens zie je daar een Gouden Brug voorbij het nat

Regenboogkleuren schit'ren als je komt dichterbij

Maar een wolkenvorm doet je stoppen,

je kunt de brug niet over,... niet mopperen.

Want een mooie engel komt opeens naderbij

"Rambo", zei hij heel zachte,

"Je bent op een plaats waar je moet wachte'. "

Een andere kat flitste vlug naar de Brug

De wolken verdwenen en de zon was terug

En Rambo zag, het ging zó vlug,

De kat was herenigd met zijn familie terug...

De blijdschap, de vrede, maakte Rambo weer blij

Hij rende terug waar het gras groen is en de lucht zo blauw,

Hij wist dat dat wou zeggen: ik hou van jou.

De plaats waar je bent met katten hier en daar,

Met vredevol gespin, eender waar.

Naar weiden vol catnip daar naast het blauwe water,

Waar de katten kunnen zwemmen maar blijven droog,

En grote bomen om te klimmen, héél hoog.

Een kat kwam bij hem, Rambo was verrast haar te zien,

Maar ja, dat was toch Tamara, gelukkig haar te zien.

En daar was Emily, Cally, Melissa en Caramel,

Allen luid spinnend van geluk, dat kan wel.

En alle zes de katten renden vol plezier,

over de groene weiden, naast de stroom zo blauw,

Al spinnend en mauwend: wij zijn hier bij jou.

Waar de katten kunnen zwemmen maar blijven droog,

En grote bomen om te klimmen, héél hoog........

            (GERMAINE VANDEGOOR)

Voor Marius

En toen ging je weg

Kwam niet weer terug

Voel nog de warmte van je buik

De zachtheid van je rug

Je pootje raakte me aan

Waarom, waarheen

Ben jij toch gegaan ?

Dagen en nachten

Steeds in gedachten

Ben je aan het lijden ?

Ik wil je ervan bevrijden !

Heb je honger, lijd je kou

Lieverd, waar zít je nou ?

Ik blijf je zoeken

Want waar je ook bent

Je missen

Is iets wat nìet went

Wellicht zit je achter de regenboog

Daar is het warm, veilig en droog

Mijn gezicht is nat,

Wíst ik het maar...

Jij , liefste kat!

Je vrouwtje Heleen (jan .2003)

STRAKS

Als ik straks oud ben, ziek en zwak, en pijn verjaagt de slaap,

als onrust neemt van mij bezit, doe dan wat onvermijdelijk is,

en laat me gaan...... de laatste daad.

Beslis voor mij, en wees niet laf,

Past eigenliefde bij de vriendschap die ik gaf,

of uitstel tot het beter past bij een verloren strijd?

Ik ben niet bang tijdens de laatste gang.

Jij loopt niet weg... je kijkt me aan, je noemt me bij de liefste naam,

en houd me stevig vast.

Vandaag voor het laatst groet ik je, en kijk je aan.

Wat jij liet doen deed je voor mij, je hebt me nog meer pijn bespaard,

voor zinloos lijden mij bewaard.

Een zwaar besluit? Nee, huil nu niet.

Een wijs besluit, wetende dat, jij mijn liefste baasje was,

en ik jou liefste kat.

                        (Herkomst onbekend)

 
CAT HEAVENs

by Cynthia Rylant

The way to Cat Heaven is a field of sweet grass
where crickets and butterflies play.

A cat may be late in getting to Heaven . . .
there's so much fun on the way!
But an angel will wait
at the yellow front door,
wait til a kitty
comes home.

And when she arrives,
he'll give her a kiss
and some milk
in a bowl all her own.

There are trees
in Cat Heaven,
trees made just for cats,
trees growing
so green and so high.

But no one gets stuck in a tree
anymore --
if a cat wants down,
she will fly!

And oh the toys,
kitty toys everywhere,
thousands and thousands
go by.

There are buttons and baubles
and small cotton mice --
there is catnip afloat
in the sky!

There are angels,
of course,
with soft angel laps
where kitties can purr
loud and strong.

The angels will rub
kitties' noses and ears
and sing them
a Cat Heaven song.

And when cats are hungry,
there's God's kitchen counter
all covered with
white kitty dishes,
full of tuna and salmon
and mounds of sardines,
and wonderful little pink fishes.

The cats in Cat Heaven
are so loved and spoiled
God lets them all
lie on his bed . . .
He walks in His garden
with a good black book
and a kitty
asleep on His head.

Then when a cat needs,
she may just simply ponder
and watch the blue world deep and wide . . .

She will watch the old house
where she once lived and wandered,
and the people who loved her inside.

All cats love Heaven,
they know the way there,
they know where
the angel cats fly.

They'll run past the stars
and the moon and the sun . . .
. . . to curl up with God in the sky.

(Dedicated by Cynthia Rylant to Caps, Nick and Edward VelvetPaws)

Met pijn in mijn hart…

Met pijn in mijn hart,

Zag ik je achteruit gaan.

Vol angst voor het onafwendbare,

Bleef ik vol hoop.

Op een beetje meer tijd

Een verbetering van jouw conditie,

Al een aantal jaren

Zag ik de aftakeling,

De achteruitgang.

Zo zwak en vermagerd.

Toch gaf je blijk van levenslust en moed

Mijn dappere Ollie, mijn beminde bink.

Het afscheid kwam nader.

Jouw pijn is voorbij.

Maar lieve Ollie,

Jij blijft altijd bij mij.

In hart en herinnering

Zul je bij ons zijn

Mijn tranen zullen je begeleiden

Op je weg naar zomerland

Ver weg over de regenboogbrug.

Daar waar het gras zoveel groener zal zijn

Waar lichamelijke klachten niet meer bestaan.

Zij die al gingen zullen daar op je wachten.

Het weerzien zal geweldig zijn

Nooit meer zware nachten

Een heel goede reis, zonder verdriet of pijn.

Ollie is niet ziek meer

Hij is op weg naar zomerland, naar het Licht

Daar waar pijn en ziekte niet meer bestaan

Zal hij op ons wachten.

Liefs Marianna

En toen ging je weg

Kwam niet weer terug

Voel nog de warmte van je buik

De zachtheid van je rug

Je pootje raakte me aan

Waarom, waarheen

Ben jij toch gegaan ?

Dagen en nachten

Steeds in gedachten

Ben je aan het lijden ?

Ik wil je ervan bevrijden !

Heb je honger, lijdt je kou

Lieverd, waar zít je nou ?

Ik blijf je zoeken

Want waar je ook bent

Je missen

Is iets wat nìet went

Wellicht zit je achter de regenboog

Daar is het warm, veilig en droog

Mijn gezicht is nat,

Wíst ik het maar...

Jij , liefste kat !

Je vrouwtje Heleen (jan .2003)

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