For My Friend Mary Elizabeth Lang 

On November 6, 2023, my dear friend, Mary Elizabeth Lang, passed away of cancer. She braved the disease for half the time I knew her, which is more than twenty years. When the cancer metastasized, she knew she was dying and she picked this picture for her memorial service. It's a lovely picture of her in the sun among the flowers. But, I shared with our mutual friend, Paula, that I wished we could see her eyes. It's not up to us to understand why she chose this picture. If I were to surmise, I would say that it wasn't what she could see with her eyes that was magical, but what she could see with her heart.

This is reflected in her poetry, which is among the finest I've ever read or heard. But also in her intuitiveness and understanding of the relationships between humans, animals, and nature.

As the anniversary of her passing approaches, I am overcome with emotion. I miss her. She is one of the few friends I can say I truly loved. I cannot define the sorrow I feel over her absence.

Two weeks ago, I remembered a premonition she had that she shared with me. I was compelled to write about it, preserve the moment forever. So, I created a poem to hold onto that moment. I embellished the conversation to try to capture her essence and loving nature. I hope I succeeded.

PREMONITION

            from my friend Mary Elizabeth Lang

 

 A cat is going to come into your life.

Not a stray hoping for food

or a kitten born from a friend’s pet.

This cat is special, meant for you.

 

There are other homes for him to choose,

where children could pick him up

like a scrappy stuffed toy

and carry him around the yard.

 

Or where a lonely widow

could scruff his head while sipping wine

and watching Jeopardy!

Yet, he knows those homes aren’t for him.

 

I’ve heard your words,

proclaiming you will never adopt again.

It leads to too much heartbreak,

as these little darlings always die first.

 

This cat will still exist if you don’t accept him,

but he will exist without the family

he was meant to have.

And you will exist without knowing his love.

 

I’m not worried. Although he’s never met you,

he’s seen you in his future.

And although I’ve never met him,

I’ve seen him in your future.

 

In a dream, he was in your house,

sauntering through your kitchen

toward his food bowl in the corner,

content with his tail in the air.

 

He gave a little chirp as he passed by,

to say “Thank you” for the savory morsels, 

for his comfy cat bed, which is also your bed,

for playing snaky, and for being his mom.

 

Their time here is short. That’s true.

But they have nine eternal lives to enjoy

on many planes beyond this mortal one.

These are spiritual beings.

 

That’s why he found me

to help him find you, and you will embrace him.

Each day you will rejoice in his being here,

and each day you will fear his loss.

 

I know, because I have lost many darlings.

I’ve cried and mourned. I still see their ghosts

ambling around the house.

And I worry for my living furry children.

 

Because this time, I will die first.

Cancer has won over my body,

giving me the gift to foresee

when my last days on this earth will be.

 

But don’t worry. Like our cats,

I have nine eternal lives to enjoy

on many planes beyond this mortal one.

We are all spiritual beings.

 

So, believe me when I tell you

a cat is going to come into your life

and you will become family.

I saw it in a dream. 

(Mary Elizabeth with one of her furry children at an Artemis meeting in her warm and inviting home.)

P.S.

Yes, we adopted the special cat from Mary Elizabeth's premonition. He had been sheltered twice prior to coming to us. He has been living in his forever home for eight years now. He's thirteen, happy and healthy. His name was Max before we adopted him, but he didn't respond to it. So, he renamed himself Scruffles.