Black and White Surprise

October 20, 2004

I wrote this in honor of my feline cousin Alley, who was born in 1986 and died in 2004. She was 18 years and 4 months old. She will be missed. When my aunt and uncle were newliweds, they told us that they had a "black and white surprise." I was picturing a little wooden Indian on the mantle (Don't ask me why), and my brother Tim was picturing a piano. We were indeed surprised to learn that they had an adorable kitten. My human cousins Annika and Andrča were born later, and they grew up with Alley. This is the second poem I've written about a specific pet (The first one was A Faithful Dog), and the first one that I've written about a specific cat.

They had a black and white surprise
What could it be?
A new piano? An episode of Lucy?
Perhaps a figurine set upon the mantle?
Or could it be...?

A black and white kitten!
A surprise and a joy
She pranced and pounced
She stood on her hind legs
As her front paws reached for that yarn

She purred and she played
A house became a home
As she welcomed new family members
The black and white surprise grew into a beautiful cat
As she played with a newborn baby, and then with a toddler
Soon came another baby
And the black and white surprise
Mixed her meows
With the children's joyful coos and squeals of glee.

She was there for all
A joy and a comfort
Always ready and willing to sit on a lap
And be lovingly stroked

And the black and white surprise grew old
As she napped in the yard
And purred on folks' laps
Always a joy
Always a wonderful, loving cat

But her health began to fail
She could no longer run and play
And one day she closed her beautiful eyes
For the last time

There she lies
Those sparkling eyes closed forever in sleep
And we can only remember
An adorable kitten, playful and sweet
A young cat, generous and loving
An aged and wizened feline, majestic and kind

And as always,
A black and white surprise.