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Go, Kitty, Go

7/12/2012

20 Comments

 
Thank you, birds,
for singing on and on
as my wife lay dying in her hospice bed.
Your songs fixed me in the moment,
made me look
rather than look away
when her breathing became so labored
her body rocked like a broken machine.
Your cheery conversations seemed so inappropriate at first,
but then I realized you were cheering her on.
“Go, Kitty, go”, you were saying,
as the energy that once busied her fingers
and hoisted her smile
escaped from her body
to power the universe in new ways.

Thank you, birds,
for revealing the truth about death:
that it is merely a rumor
spread by those
who have yet to glimpse eternity.



John Ptacek

20 Comments
Nancy
7/11/2012 09:53:40 pm

John, you've captured it. I was amazed at the incredible amount of song and asked Kitty if she could hear them. I'm sure she could and I now think of her when I hear them in the morning. Nancy

Reply
John Ptacek
7/18/2012 08:18:28 pm

For three days in a row, a female goldfinch perched on my windowsill at work and kept tapping its beak against the window. I think it might have been Kitty reminding me to save coupons.

Reply
CT
7/11/2012 10:05:24 pm

Great poem John. Another example of how powerful it is to be present and conscious.

Reply
John Ptacek
7/12/2012 08:30:23 pm

Thanks, CT.

Reply
Barb
7/12/2012 04:45:23 am

John, You brought me back to those moments, the beauty of nature and the intimacy of death, entwined in the cycle of life. Her energy reaches me everyday in new and loving ways.

Reply
John Ptacek
7/18/2012 08:10:43 pm

Me too.

Reply
Elise
7/12/2012 08:50:54 am

Beautiful and amazing.

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Pam
7/13/2012 10:15:22 pm

.....and Kitty would have made sure WE heard the birds......thanks for this thought

Reply
John Ptacek
7/18/2012 08:15:11 pm

Yes, Pam. What a beautiful insight.

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Jennine Duelge
7/15/2012 10:12:23 am

John, this is just beautiful and brings tears of joy to my eyes and has touched my soul. I cannot imagine the joy Kitty is spreading right now - always the beautiful soul.

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Manoj Khatri link
7/18/2012 12:01:34 am

Ah!
Beautiful, brilliant and profound...

Reply
John Ptacek
7/18/2012 08:15:57 pm

Thank you, Manoj.

Reply
Susie
7/18/2012 02:49:06 pm

John, The birds were singing so late into the night on Saturday that I asked if you had set up a sound machine for Kitty. Early monday morning I was sitting outside on Adane's swings before anyone was up, taking in the enormity of our loss and feeling sad. I was drawn to look up and at the very peak of the house and there was the most regal looking robin I had ever seen. Kitty was telling me she was fine. She looked my way and then flew off with her new friends.

Reply
John Ptacek
7/18/2012 08:11:44 pm

Beautifully put, Susie.

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Bobbi
7/22/2012 11:58:59 am

the depth of your respect ~

this is so beautiful - thank you John

Reply
john ptacek
7/22/2012 08:55:41 pm

Thank you, Bobbi.

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Mary
9/18/2012 11:51:32 am

Thanks for directing me to this wonderful imagery.

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swati link
10/28/2012 07:55:56 pm

thank you.

Reply
Randall
1/2/2013 02:11:05 am

Beautiful John..thank you for that. Brought a tear to my eye..which I actually enjoy.

Reply
Lori Frazier link
7/7/2017 07:40:51 pm

A beautiful tribute. You and Kitty are in my heart.

Reply

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