Burial
You buried your cat in your backyard,
only you put him in a casket. Yes, a tiny
little casket with a shrine underneath
a small tree. You loved him more
than any human, more than your wife,
your siblings, your parents.
You dug him up after the separation,
took him with you to a new place,
buried him somewhere I’ve never been.
A cat casket. A reminder of the only one
you’ve ever been able to connect with,
leaving those who have tried to love
you the most behind.
Wow this is powerful. I relate both to the person being described who loves this cat so much and those who are trying to love this person to no avail. Strong images and very accessible writing.
Brutal in its honesty and wow – what a story. It rings so true. Poignant and yes, brutal in its portrayal of a (multiple?) relationship(s). One of my favorite poems of this year’s marathon.