Saturday, June 19, 2010

Shadowfax (1992 - 2010)

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Our cat Shadowfax died at 7:51 a.m. this morning.  He would have been  eighteen years old in September.

Shadow was an affectionate cat and very tolerant of human folly.  However, in his own world, the savage lands beyond the screen door, he was the fiercest of warriors.  Marianne will never forget the summer morning, some years ago, when she opened the door and discovered a freshly-eviscerated juvenile opossum on the back porch.  Nor the next day, when she found another.  Nor the next three days, one possum after another.

In old age, Shadow slowed down a bit, but he never lost his spirit.  Last winter, seeing him curled up happily before the wood stove and knowing this day would come, I wrote the following lines:


               Shadowfax

The aged warrior is fast asleep
Coiled by the wood-stove fire.
All  you who mortal glory seek
Stop here and look no higher.

Bold slaughterer of mice and snakes, 
God's punisher of birds,
Nemesis of young opossums -- 
Oblivious to my words.

In his prime, no foreign cat
Dared set foot in his yard.
From battle he returned untouched,
Silken, sure, and hard.

In decline he brought home scars
On his pink nose; an ear was pierced.
But not one scratch upon his butt.
His softest moment still was fierce.

Mere youth today can best his strength
Yet still he pleads each night
For someone to unlock to door
To one more challenge, one last fight.


Sleep well, small warrior.  The mice may be rejoicing now.  But your ghost will feast upon them tonight.



Above:  Kyle Cassidy took this picture on his cell phone at a party in our backyard two weeks ago.  Ordinarily, Shadow was a dignified creature.  But he was a sucker for a beautiful woman's lap.

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7 comments:

Eileen Gunn said...

Michael and Marianne, my condolences on brave Shadowfax's passing. Eighteen years was a good run for a tough-guy who had territory to protect, but not long enough at all.

skyknyt said...

This made me tear up. I love my own cat dearly, and have lost many before their times. Eighteen years is a very distinguished age for the warriors of our lawns. He must have been quite the defender.

Unknown said...

Sounds like a mighty cat, indeed. I'm very sorry for your loss.

HANNAH'S DAD said...

My greatest sympathies. I would feel the same under any circumstances, but having just had our 19(!) year old Rufus put down a week ago, empathy comes easily.

He too was a great fighter who lived to an infirm but affectionate old age. I suspect he may have eaten a couple of neighbouring Burmese when younger.

The gaps they leave take a long time to fill. For a while the world is nothing but fugitive colours and sounds which announce the arrival of an old friend who never shows.

Shadowfax looked to be a noble beast, despite the goofy expression in the photo.

bruce said...

I'm very sorry for your loss. Kinky Friedman observed: "They say when you die and go to heaven all the dogs and cats you've ever had in your life come running to meet you."

Bookmama said...

We're very sad to hear of Shadowfax's passing. He was a great cat, able to walk that fine line between friendly and stand-offish that a true cat is able to do. Dewey and Peggotty send their condolences, too.

Datlow said...

I'm very sorry to hear of your dear Shadowfax's passing. He sounds like a wonderful boy.