My Sweet Vincent

I still remember the day we met,
How you melted in my arms right away,
How loudly you purred with every pet,
With me you truly wanted to stay.

I promised that day to protect you,
To keep your belly full and your heart content,
That only gentle hands would ever touch you,
That I would repay all the love you have lent.

You saved my best friend’s life one night,
When he was unable to call out to me,
You didn’t want to eat until he was once again in your sight,
And once he was you were as happy as could be.

You helped me grieve when my brother died,
Offering endless snuggles and purrs to heal my heart,
You were always right there by my side,
Every second I was home we were not apart.

You purred up a storm right on my diaphragm,
When my hernia closed my throat and needed emergency care,
You have no idea how grateful I am
That you soothed away all the pain and every scare.

You soothed away my fear and hurt while I fought my PTSD,
And stood between my door and me if you sensed a threat,
It was my job to protect you and you also protected me,
From day one we had the tightest bond that human and cat could get.

I knew someday the Rainbow Bridge would await you,
And I would lose a truly wonderful friend,
But nothing prepared me for knowing there was little I could do,
But give you the same love and comfort till the end.

I hope you’re greeted in the heavens by my brother,
Who volunteered in animal shelters in his final years,
I hope you’re greeted by my grandmother,
Who will love and hold you for endless years.

I hope you’re greeted by my childhood cat Sox,
Who taught me that unconditional love is real,
And I hope you make endless friends and have endless talks,
And receive the endless love you made your living friends feel.

All of your little paws will once again have claws,
You will never again feel nauseous or have a stomach ache,
You will never again feel sore joints, not even your paws,
You will never again feel tired or need to take a break.

You will still be deeply loved forever,
You will always be our very own hero,
The love you showed us won’t be forgotten ever,
The chances of you being forgotten are zero.

I will miss you greeting me at the door,
You giving me little headbutts and high fives,
Your purring on my belly until it hurt no more,
And your brightening my own and others’ lives.

I will look to the sky every night for you,
Whenever I feel lonely or sad,
When I miss your gentle voice and everything you do,
And when life is good and I feel glad.

My sweet Vincent, I love you so much,
If it was humane I would help you live forever,
But you will live on in memories of your warm touch,
And the love we shared that even death can’t sever.