Legend of the Lost Cat

Linda [Wesser] Yoest 1951 (Ohio)

March 24

Nature

Rhymed

I went exploring one afternoon,
outside where I rarely go.
Things in the grass, things in the air,
but what I did not know.

You called to me, you called and called.
I pretended not to hear.
Then it got dark and I was scared,
but you were nowhere near.

I followed a fence going on and on
as far as I could see;
and very soon I was lost.
'Now where could my home be?'

Long after I was tired and hungry
and wanted my own bed,
I laid down in the grass
and used my paws to rest my head.

I gave a loud and mighty meow,
as only cats can do;
I listened and I listened,
but I did not hear you.

That night I lay shivering
inside a hollow log.
Protected but a little
from the cold, the damp, the fog.

I growled at every sound.
I didn't sleep all night.
And I was quite relieved
when it was finally light.

I meant to go straight home.
I really, really did.
But I just couldn't find my way;
so mostly I just hid.

So many days, so many nights
I wandered everywhere.
But no matter where I went
I could not find you there.

Now little girl who played with me:
I wonder if you cried?
And little boy who pulled my tail:
Do you think I died?

Well, I wanted you to know
that I am cozy and well fed;
And I go to sleep at night
at the foot of a warm, soft bed.

But I can’t help but wonder
what the other kitties do.
Are they out there all alone?
Or did they find new homes, too?

About this poem

For Bear, found the winter of 1993 under a construction site trailer the day the temperature dropped to 22 degrees below zero. She growled like a bear, so that became her name. I knew she was someone’s pet because she had been completely de-clawed. She was quite defenseless and I used to wonder if anyone worried about her or missed her. I lost my beloved Bear to cancer on May 4th, 2001. Whether anyone else ever missed her I do not know, but I miss her very much. The original poem was written in 1993, but the last four lines were added in 2016 because of the inspiration of a local organization called Logan County TNR Project, as well as two low-cost veterinary clinics, Champaign County Animal Welfare League and His Hands Extended Sanctuary. Legend of the Lost Cat 1993© 2016© Linda [Wesser] Yoest more »

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Written on December 20, 1993

Submitted by LinYoest on August 27, 2022

Modified by LinYoest on March 03, 2024

: 1:43 min read
: 91 Views

Quick analysis:

Scheme	XABA XXXX XCXC CDXD XEXE XXXX XFXF XGXG XBXB CHXH ADFD XEXE
Closest metre	Iambic tetrameter
Characters	1,396
Words	342
Stanzas	12
Stanza Lengths	4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Full analysis for Legend of the Lost Cat »

Linda [Wesser] Yoest

An old lady; an amateur poet/writer who enjoys nature and animals; and writing bios about stuffies which are given to children as Christmas gifts. Everyone needs a stuffy with its own story. more…

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3 Comments

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jessica.ar.dilucia
This poem tells a narrative and personifies the journey of a lost cat. It uses powerful images and concrete terms to allow you to envision what is happening in the story.
LikeReply 120 days ago
- LinYoest
  Thank you, Jessica. This a lived experience of mine and the cat (Bear). I spent many nights (with him sleeping at the foot of my waterbed) wondering what his story was. Eventually, I wrote his story for him. He was fine regardless, but it did make me feel better to have an idea of what might have been his story. more »
  LikeReply5 days ago
AIDA
Wow! Your poem was beautifully written and really pulled at my heartstrings. The imagery you used to describe the cat's journey was so vivid and captivating. I could almost imagine myself in the same situation.

If I may suggest some improvement, it would be great to see more of an introduction to the poem. Perhaps a few lines about the cat's life before it went exploring would create more of a connection with the reader.

Overall, your poetry skills are truly impressive and I hope to read more of your works in the future. Keep up the great work! more »
LikeReply 11 year ago
lovingempath
I think 'Bear' showed up at my house Linda! :). I have several kitties I take care of. A few were obviously loved by someone in their past, and whether they were abandoned...they've never told me. When I was a kid, I went to see 'Tommasina' (sp). It broke my heart. Sort-of like this poem does. more »
LikeReply 11 year ago
- LinYoest
  Robin, I still tear up when I think of her. She was my heart! She developed an inoperable tumor on her lower jaw and eventually could not eat. I could not let her suffer. :'(
  LikeReply 11 year ago
- lovingempath
  That is so weird. The last cat I had put to sleep had the same thing. I had a hard time getting him into the Vet during the 'Covid' thing and by the time I was able to get Big Boy in...the tumor under his tongue was inoperable and so I had to make the decision right then and there to put him down. He was having a very hard time eating. It had to be done (crying emoji). more »
  LikeReply 11 year ago
- LinYoest
  Awe, that is so heartbreaking, Robin. I had about 6 weeks with my Bear. The vet gave her a steroid shot that helped for about a month, after which he gave her another shot but it only lasted a week or two. She would howl in pain . . . I had to let her go. Broke my heart to have her put to sleep. I have her ashes in a little wooden box. more »
  LikeReply 11 year ago

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