In the mid-1970’s I visited my Mom and sisters when they lived in Aldergrove, BC. While there, the family cat was found dead. Evidently, he had sought shelter from the cold in the undercarriage of a parked automobile. To comfort my sisters, I wrote about him.

Bert’s Untimely End

Bert came today to his untimely end,

Not intending to create harm or fright,

But only to find a warm place last night

Out of the wet and wintry cold to spend.

It was as if the car Bert did offend

Which then struck back with all its metal might,

Cutting off his life, thus ending his right

To pursue happiness untouched, un-penned.

A member missing from our group portrait,

He left while we all slept in cozy beds:

We’ll miss his purr, meow, and feline arts.

For vision of “Puss” we must all await;

He ‘is but a little ways above our heads’

But he will be forever in our hearts.