by Jodie Wamboldt
A POEM FOR MURRAY
(my cat, hit by a car on August 3rd, 2000)
by Jodie Wamboldt
My little friend with chin of white
A lion's heart and dimming sight
an angel sent from up above
giver of undying love
I miss you so, my heart does break
My tears cannot relieve this ache
You'd comfort me if you were here
You'd stick your cold nose in my ear
And rub my back as if to say
"We'll meet again some other day"
"And don't you cry, 'cause I'll be here"
"Whenever you should need me dear"
I know you're in a better place
but I miss your furry Murray face
Murray was a domestic long haired cat. He was black, with a white bib, a white chin, and his back paws were also white.
I found Murray in a shelter seven years ago. He had been abused very badly. The woman at the shelter tried to talk me out of adopting him because he needed special attention. I knew in my heart that he was very special, so I adopted him. When I first brought him home, he was so frightened that he pooped all over me. He jumped out my arms and hid under my bed. I didn't see him again for three weeks. I knew he was around though, because his dish would be emptied. Finally one morning he came out from under the bed. I was sitting on the couch when he came over and brushed up against my legs. I tried to pet him but he ran away again. This went on for days. Finally he began to trust me, and eventually he let me pet his rear end. After time, we became best friends. Almost like a dog, Murray would follow me everywhere. When I'd leave, he'd watch me go, and he would always be waiting for me in the same spot when I came home. He slept curled up around my head or sometimes on my back, and he would pur so loudly it would sometimes wake me up. When I was sad he knew. He would sit beside me and lean on my arm. The look on his face was so sweet, for in his own way he was trying to tell me that it would be ok. He loved everybody. If you sat still on the floor, he would rub himself righ up your back. He never once hissed or growled at anyone. When my second child was born, Murray started sleeping in his room like he was keeping watch over him. Justin, my son, even bit his tail one day while he was teething, and Murray just cried out in pain, but he didn't move.
Murray kept sneeking out so we decided that we would let him be outside. We were against the idea at first, but we wanted him to be happy. He loved to sleep under the cherry tree during the day and he would play at night. He had many friend in the neighborhood...many of them were dogs..a few skunks! but he never got sprayed. He like to go visiting! He never went far though, because every night when he would hear me come home from work, he would come running to walk me up the steps and give me love. Murray was getting old and almost blind, and on August third as he was on his way home, he got hit by a car in front of my house and died. I have lost my loyal loving friend and companion. I love you Murray. Thank you for being a part of my life.