Delilah

Delilah died this June.
So Tony told me when I ran into him at the end of my walk yesterday.

We were not in town then. In fact we’ve been gone a lot this year
And the first time we’ve had a chance to use our deck has been in August.
When I didn’t see her for a whole two weeks
I contemplated visiting the Andersons just to let Delilah know that we were back.

Because though Delilah was Tony and Beth Anderson’s cat,
She was a hunter
And she spent half her summer on our deck anticipating her next move.

I think she also liked us.
And gave us no choice but to adore her.

She would show up at the sliding glass door – the big time waster –
And insist that we go out and pet her.

Of course, she had her dance – she’d move away and come back for more as only a cat can.
She would talk to us in her loud purrs and gentle meows
Looking straight into our eyes with her own beautiful green ones.
After catching up on all the news she would relax in the sunlight, sometimes cleaning herself for minutes on end.

Then she’d take her perch up on the railing of the deck
And wait, and wait, and wait…
Every fall, like around the end of October, I’d get this pang that I would have to wait till spring to see her.
And every spring I’d wait in longing for that first visit from Delilah.
Just like I did this spring.
But now she is gone and I’m left with my memories and longing.