The cat is gone

The cat is gone and we bought a brand new chair.
We left dirty dishes in the sink overnight,
And opened a can of tuna unmolested.

I can write without an editor on my shoulder
And read without claws kneading my chest.
It is so damn lonely here without him.

I no longer have to save grocery bags
With which to remove cat shit from the litter box
And I don't have to get up at three am to let him out.

Three am was when he was attacked.
Four raccoons bit and clawed him until I chased them away.
Two days later I okayed a lethal injection.

We could leave for the weekend, just you and I.
No worries about finding someone to sit with him.
He always got so lonely without us.