An old man with children grown
Grandchildren not around
Nothing but the sound of silence
Brought his spirits down.
He had so much love to give
Didn’t want a lot, just the joyful sound
Of young one’s laughs again.
The Lord saw he was a good man
And gave to him a gift. Not a human
young one, an animal he sent his way.
While raking away the last of autumn,
On a warm and sunny day, he heard the tiniest
Cry. At first he was hearing things, but there it was again!
He looked down, and saw a tiny fur of black
And white crying up at him. He knew right
Away that she belonged to him
He drowned in her baby blue eyes,
And was instantly in love. He became
The kitten’s “mother”, nursing her
To health. She suckled the milk he put on
His finger, took care of her, his empty life
Was better than riches, or any other wealth
Sleeping on his shoulder, nuzzling his neck
His silent laughter came back to life again.
Mary E. Lacey
2010
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