CHARLIE, MY CHOO-CHOO

Do you enjoy paying it forward? Last week I shared a poem which I wrote and this week I would like to PAY IT FORWARD with a wonderful poem which I received from a special person, who I have never met but touched my heart with her descriptive and heartfelt words. Having been given this poem, while , the meaning was even more profoundly sentimental. I truly reflected upon the depth to which I was connected to my own cat--his companionship, loyalty, communication and the intense bond which we had with each other, and the tremendous loss and pain I was experiencing. Her reference to Mother and the parallels of the connection between us all are thought provoking.

These words written by a talented resident of a local shelter exemplify feelings which go beyond the human soul and her ability to articulate the meaning of life is prize winning!

You are Love, Shelley

CHARLIE, MY CHOO-CHOO

CHARLIE IS TO ME ALMOST EVERY MEMORY OF REANNA.

HE IS BIRTHDAYS, CHRISTMAS, EASTER, AND SATURDAYS.

CHARLIE IS EVENINGS WITH MY MOM AND MOVING ON.

HE IS LAUGHING WITH MY MOM, LOVING HER, MISSING HER.

HE IS MY HAIR-TIES, ROLLED UP PIECES OF PAPER AND BALLS OF FOIL. HE IS HOME SWEET HOME!

HE IS COCO, SISTER , COUSINS, GRAND-DAUGHTERS.

HE IS GOING OUT ON THE PORCH WITH A CUP OF COFFEE

AND A CIGARETTE TO TALK ABUT NOTHING IMPORTANT &

THE EXTREME DEVASTATION OF CANCER TAKING THE MOST PRECIOUS PERSON YOU KNOW.

HE IS SURVIVAL; HE'S A GREEN HOUSE ON A HILL.

HE IS SADNESS, HAPPINESS AND FAMILY

HE IS A FIGHTER, A LOVER AND SO MIS-UNDERSTOOD.

HE IS LOST AND THEN FOUND.

HE IS BLACK AND HE IS WHITE

HE IS BEAUTIFUL WITHOUT WORDS SPOKEN

HE IS ALIVE WHEN ALL ELSE IS DEAD

HE'S TEN YEARS FULL OF PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE...

HE IS LETTING GO AND HOLDING ON.

HE'S MY COMFORT WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS -

HE IS PRECIOUS! AS SMALL AS OUR HAND - YET LARGER THAN LIFE.

CHARLIE IS MY BROTHER. THE ONE OF MY MOTHER

HE IS HER SPIRIT - HER LOOKING BACK AT ME

MY BROTHER, SON AND CAT!

YOU REPRESENT A GOLDEN PERSON - MY MOM...