My Guiding Star

My 1750th poem.

Your sleek ebony body

Fills me

With hope.

As I watch you

Travel upon

Your journey of healing.

From a scared

And abused kitten

When I hand-feed you

During the first night.

To the confident

And sassy Queen

Who greets everyone

Walking through

My apartment door.

Yet

It pains me

Whenever

I hear your plaintive cry

In your meow

As I touch you.

Byproduct

From months of abuse

By another person.

Still

You judge me

Worthy of your affections

And trust.

Most valuable gift

I have

Ever received

From anyone.

Author's Note

Originally written October 1, 2013, for Star, an abused black cat, who I took in, and have been helping her, to heal, since November 2011. She has become, my inspiration, as I heal from my various mental illnesses.

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

that's the wonderful thing about pets - they have this amazing capacity to forgive beyond our own capacity I think

[therisa]

And to teach those, willing to learning, life isn't always, a fist to the face, or a toxic verbal barb .

[Emily B]

one good turn deserves another, we are none of us so broken that we can't help another toward the light :)

[therisa]

Just trying to return the love and compassion that others offered me, during my time of dire need, Emily. In many ways, Star has become my teacher, in the art of healing of oneself.