SMOKEY

I remember, I remember, many years ago
A little cat called Smokey and oh, I loved him so.
He came to us, a tiny scrap, could hold him on my palm
I never thought the day would come when he would come to harm.

Day by day we watched him grow into a big fine boy
He played and ran and hunted. His life was full of joy
One day when he was 10 months old, he wanted to go and play
I opened up the door for him and said “Don’t go far away”.

I little thought that morning, what fate would have in store
When I saw my baby wander off, that I’d see him no more.
Later that day we walked the streets calling out his name
No answering chirp, no soft miaow and no-one ever came.

At last we reached the main road, where cars were whizzing past
And there I found my baby, lying on the grass
Too late to save him, long since gone, I held him as I cried
I felt as if my heart would break, the day my darling died.

We brought him home and buried him beneath the lilac tree
A little kitten, grey and white, who meant the world to me.

Beryl