Vale Joey Palooka

There’s a cat-shaped hole

In our family’s heart

A fur-laden gap

He used to fill

With meows and purrs

Lying on his blanket

we held his paws

as he drew in a breath

and let it out

for the last time

We will cry for the loss

We will cry for his passing

But in our minds

He’s running outside

Free and happy

And that makes us happy too