Missing Niamh

Things have been jumping in Spruce Pine, and indeed the whole state of North Carolina, with the impending vote over Amendment One. Opinions are running high. Town is tense. But I keep turning my thoughts away from this because somehow my humanity is better served by meditating on the beauty of my late pet, Niamh. She passed away on January 31st of this year. She was a whole world of attitude, wildness, and sweetness. Just looking at her picture makes me dissolve. Here is a poem I wrote for her in 2000:


FOR NIAMH

What shall we do, my tiger girl
When we set off for Spain
You on your tasseled cushion
And me, in my velvet train?

By torchlight on the river bank
A masquerade of mice
Playing psaltery and fiddle
Will scent the air with spice.





                

We'll call for a silver goblet of

Men's lips in jellied wine

And the skulls of little songbirds

For your cruel teeth so fine.

Your paws perfumed with sweet decay

And your jaws that reek of death

You'll recline upon my shoulder

And we'll mingle, breath to breath.

(copyright cathy larson sky)