I’m allergic to cats, but before I realized that, we had a wonderful cat named Millie. My son, Tom, brought her home one day and she quickly became a member of our family…until allergies forced me to give her up. She made out like a bandit during the last years of her life, because a good friend with no allergies took her in and let her rule the roost! I had dreams of Millie starring in a picture book one day, but alas, she was destined to star only in my heart.
TWO-LEGGED AND FOUR
God loves Millie and me.
How do I know?
He gave us each other
creatures, two legged and four.
When night invites moonbeams
and star-showers in,
Millie captures shadows
and sings medleys to me.
Millie rattles my door
to see if I’m lonely.
With a running leap
she settles on my bed.
God loves Millie and me.
How do I know?
He guards us sleeping
and guides us waking.
At the stir of first light
Millie spreads into a yawn,
purrs good morning in my ear,
dodges my reply.
Mama makes kitchen noises.
It’s breakfast time!
Meow, meow,
I’m hungry, can’t you tell?
One bowl for Millie,
one bowl for me.
I pour, she sings,
and weaves love ‘round my feet.
God loves Millie and me.
How do I know?
Our bowls are as full
as the plans for our day.
It’s time to get dressed.
It’s time for our chores.
I brush Millie’s fur
between wiggles and wags…
and dancing leaps.
Come out right now
you silly, silly.
Hide and seek later
when our work is done.
Toys in the box,
clothes in the drawer,
shoes in the closet,
even the stringy shoelace.
God loves Millie and me.
How do I know?
He eases our work
and delights in our sport.
Millie curves the ball to me
back and forth,
back and forth…
until a fly sails by!
Now we can play hide and seek.
I cover my eyes.
Millie sneaks away…
to dreamland.
Afternoon sun
splashes into the room,
landing on Millie
like a spotlight.
I crouch down
now two cats in the window.
I give a chin tickle.
She slurps love on my cheek…
scampers to the kitchen clatter.
After supper and a bath
it’s time to read
how God’s love spread across our day
like honey on warm bread.
Mama says it’s time
for cats and dogs
birds and beasts
to say goodnight.
Papa closes the book.
We say our prayers.
Thank you, God
for all your creatures,
two-legged and four.
Honorable Mention, Carteret Writers, Inc., Ninth Annual Writing Contest, 2000, Writing for Children
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Hey READERS, I would love to hear from you.
Is your MIND FULL of old thoughts or new?
Linda,
The image and cadence of this poem played hide and seek with my heart and remembrances of so many beloved childhood Millies. You truly capture the lovely moments and the love between our childhood selves and our four legged familiars.
And, isn’t that link still there even as we age — held by amber eyes, a paw laid gently on our arm as we read?
Thanks for dropping by, Susan,and for your kind comments. Yep, I’m living proof that you don’t have to be an over-the-top animal devotee to experience true love with a favorite four-leggged pet.
I remember MIllie, and maybe a picture book is still in the future?? who knows?
One never knows! The writing business is a surprise a minute, right? But it was fun to get nostalgic about this poem during Poetry month.