black cat
departs on a breeze
she left behind
scenes from another life
forest of tall trees

Nike

Bodhi dog
sits next to Nike cat
he licks her face
paws at her bed, moans
she is passing

each day weaker
she can hardly walk or stand
death never gets
any easier
no matter how hard I try

her tiny body
relaxed into my arms
not a whimper
not a cry
gently, gently, gone

Nike died, Oct. 24, 2016, 21 years old