Hi all, I sent this poem of mine to Troy Lynn for her opinon and she said to post it here. This was a hard one to write and sometimes I had to get up and walk away for a while during the writing process. I've never had any formal writing classes to speak of but this is from the heart. Pick up a box of tissues and read 'Life, Love and Ferrets'......Duane *Life, love, and Ferrets* * By Duane C. Watts* Part One The old man found the ball of fur laying beside the road. The ferret was hardly breathing on this night so dark and cold. He stopped and picked her up, a bony little waif, and put her inside his coat where she'd be warm and safe. At home he made a little bed that he put her in and covered her in fleece and he said, with a grin, "Now don't you worry, little one", "I know just what to do". "I have taken care of ferrets much worse off than you". "We used to run a shelter way back in our day. Kathryn and I was good at this before she passed away". He gave her something yummy a mixture he called duck soup. She ate all he gave her and repaid him with a poop. He fed her every hour on into the night. She seemed a little better just about daylight. This ferret gave him purpose a reason for his life. Something he really didn't have every since he lost his wife. The ferret gained her strength she liked her ferretone. It wasn't long before she was eating on her own. "What shall I call you"? He said, "I think I know. I will call you Katie for my wife of years ago". Katie was his companion about three years or more and it did his old heart good to see her dance across the floor. He played many games with her like chase and hide-n-seek and when he couldn't find her he had a ball that he would squeak. With concern the old man noticed Katie sleeping more and more. He even found her once fast asleep upon the floor. He started her on prednisone it seemed to perk her up. She just might live another year with a bit of luck. The time came soon enough when she could hardly stand. He brought home some syringes to give her food by hand. Every day he fed her some chicken or some lamb. In her ferret mind she thought, 'I love this dear old man.' He told her of the Rainbow Bridge where wondrous flowers bloom. where all pets go to jump and play and she would go there soon. He stayed by her little bed a vigil through the day. Sometime after midnight little Katie passed away. The old man was racked with sorrow unashamed that he could cry. He looked up with tear filled eyes and all he asked was, "why"? He loved his little Katie she seemed to give him life now even she was gone just like his lovely wife. Again he had no one with all his love to give. But this time in his sorrow he'd lost his will to live. Few mourners at his funeral with last respects to impart. The old man died alone from a lonely and broken heart. ============================================== Part Two The old man awoke on a carpet of green grass as he looked around he saw trees that looked like colored glass. The place was very beautiful and the air smelled so sweet. He had on a snow white robe and no shoes upon his feet. "I think I know this place", he said with a smile, "I read about it long ago when I was a child". "I believe the place I'm looking for is just beyond this hill". So he went to see a curiosity to fill. The old man climbed the little hill and stood upon the ridge the awesome sight before him was the wondrous Rainbow Bridge. The span was held with columns of alabaster white. The walkway was paved with gold with an aurora glowing bright. The water fell a thousand feet. The rainbow stretched across the sky. With the grandeur of the Rainbow Bridge he felt as tiny as a fly. "How could anything so beautiful even possibly exist, With this sparkling waterfall and multi- colored mist?" He pondered just a moment and decided with a nod. This could only be by the powerful hand of god. A motion caught his eye some distance on the ground. A multitude of ferrets were running with a bound.. Out in front he saw her running happily and safe. The fuzzy he named Katie his little rescued waif. His heart was filled with gladness as he knelt upon the ground. He looked around in wonder as the ferrets gathered round. "Why, your name is Bandit and there is Scooter too. Over here is kanga, and her little friend named Roo". "You're the ferrets from our shelter way back in our past. Its so great to be here and to see you again at last". To play with all of them again filled him with such joy. He even chased them on the ground as if he was a boy. He stopped to catch his breath, he'd never had such fun. Then all the ferrets turned their heads as one. He looked and seen a woman of such radiance and grace. She held her arms out for him a smile upon her face. He stood up and held her and how his tears did flow. The woman's name was Kathryn his wife of long ago.. They walked on hand in hand true happiness he'd found. He and his beloved wife and their ferrets all around. They met all the other pets, critters of every kind, and along the path to the bridge their paws were neatly lined. The ferrets dooked their goodbyes to the pets there waiting still. Ever watching patiently for their humans top the hill. They stood there hand in hand the ferrets all in tow. All the pets bowed their heads it was time for them to go. They walked on along the path, Two hundred and eleven, and crossed the wondrous Rainbow Bridge and entered the gates of Heaven. Duane C. Watts [Posted in FML 6503]