I touch the quiet cat
          Between and behind his ears.
His softness mutes
          His newspaper bed
That speaks no more her death.

My grief, cooling thunder,
          Leaves rainbows in the tears
My fingers smear
          Onto dried petals of his fur
Grey on Grey and blacker.

I'll remember rain
          After the rainbows die,
After he moves
         Off all remaining to me:
The blooming photos,
          The worded grief.