Ode to Zizzie, spirit of adventure
THIS is Zizzie writing to you from cat planet.
I’m still a happy cat and will always be with you in spirit. I have lived a great life — which I now want to tell you about.
I was born in Spain, put in a cosy handbag and taken by motorbike to a cafe in Malaga — where I met a lady called Tillie.
She hugged me — it was love at first sight. I gave her the hypnotic look with my beautiful blue eyes — she was hooked.
I got my passport and we travelled to her lovely home in Dublin to meet her surprised husband, Pete, and two children, Ella and Laura.
What fun and magical times we shared. I loved my family and was very spoilt. I had my own bedroom with lots of toys, but I usually cuddled up and slept with the children.
I went on a lead to my neighbours’ home for supper every night and explored other gardens — sometimes I had to be rescued!
I loved going in the car, especially visiting my friends in Enniskerry.
I often went on adventurous outings in my cosy bag on the bicycle and sometimes on a motorbike — everyone greeted us and said what an amazing cat I was.
Then I got ill. My kindly vets and nurses tried to save me, but it was time for me to go to cat planet. All were devastated.
Tillie wrote this poem for you to read.
‘I sense your adventurous spirit everywhere
Your hypnotic round blue eyes looking at me
I feel your cashmere white body close to me
In neighbours’ gardens I sense you meditating
Exotic plants dance in the breeze with you
I know your free loving spirit is with us
You were a much-travelled cat, full of adventures
On boats, cars, bikes, bicycles and lead
You always were and wanted to be with us
You were a much-loved cat — purring on my lap
A sign of a happy cat — a sound of sleeping peace
A Ziz — that is no longer with us
Candles brightly zoned your spirit at home
You opened your eyes as if to say ‘I am with you’
Your crystal blue eyes still — and still with us
When I carried you to your final resting place
Your paw clung to my arm — as if to say
Time for another adventure — with you in spirit.’
Tillie Bell, Dublin
If you would like your pet featured in this column please send a story of 440 words and a photograph to snews@independent.ie clearly labelled MY PET