So my cat died this morning. We are going to find a little place for her in the park near my mum’s house. I don’t want this to be a miserable post. She was a truly proud creature.
I dedicate this TS Eliot poem to her, a cat of many names indeed:
The naming of cats is a difficult matter,
It isn’t just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I’m mad as a hatter
When I tell you a cat must have three
different names.
First of all, there’s the name
that the family use daily,
Such as Victor, or Jonathan,
George or Bill Bailey–
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names
if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen,
some for the dames;
Such as Plato, Admetus,
Electra, Demeter–
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you,
a cat needs a name that’s particular,
A name that is peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he
keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers,
or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind,
I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quazo or Coripat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellyrum–
Names that never belong
to more than one cat.
But above and beyond
there’s still one name left over,
And that is the name that you will never guess;
The name
that no human research can discover–
But The Cat Himself Knows,
and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought,
of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
The Naming of Cats - T.S Eliot
December 28th, 2005 at 7:55 am
i’m an not a cat person, but Nikiforos was the best cat in the world. it’s so sad..
December 28th, 2005 at 7:56 am
Oh - so sorry to hear
What was your cat’s name - the one she shared with you, anyway?
December 28th, 2005 at 8:03 am
Bye cat.
December 28th, 2005 at 8:09 am
Her name was ‘Nikiforos’
December 28th, 2005 at 8:43 am
I wouldn’t want to die (Je voudrais pas crever)- Boris Vian
Before having known
The black mexican dogs
Who sleep without dreaming
The butt-naked monkeys
Gobbling up tropics
The silver spiders in
Webs riddled with bubbles
I wouldn’t want to die
Not knowing if the moon
Behind its fake nickel look
Has a sharper side
If the sun is cold
If the four seasons
Are really only four
Not having tried
To wear a dress
On the boulevards
Not having peeped
Through a sewer peephole
Not having put my dick
Inside weirdo corners
I wouldn’t want to end
Without experiencing leprosy
Or the seven diseases
One catches over there
Neither the good nor the bad
Would cause me some sorrow
If if if I knew that
I would get it firsthand
And there is also
Everything I know
Everything I like
That I know that I like
The green bottom of the sea
Where the seaweeds waltz
On the rippled sand
The burnt grass in June
The crackling earth
The smell of conifers
And the kisses of the one
She’s this and she’s that
The belle here she comes
My bearcub, Ursula
I wouldn’t want to die
Before having used up
Her mouth with my mouth
Her body with my hands
The rest with my eyes
I say no more one should
Remain polite
I wouldn’t want to fade
Without someone inventing
Eternal roses
The two hour day
The sea at the mountain
The mountain at the sea
The end of pain
Newspapers in color
All children happy
And so many other tricks
That sleep inside the brains
Of genius engineers
Of jovial gardeners
Of concerned socialists
Of urban urbanists
And of thoughtful thinkers
So many things to see
To see and to hear
So much time to wait
Searching in the dark
And me I see the end
It swarms and it comes closer
With its ugly face
And it opens its arms to me
Like a cripplety frog
I wouldn’t want to die
No sir no madam
Before having tested
The taste which torments me
The taste which is the strongest
I wouldn’t want to die
Before having tasted
The flavour of death…
Goodbye ÎικηφόÏε
December 28th, 2005 at 9:16 am
{{{{{ Chloe}}}} Comforting hugs for you today.. I’m so sorry.
December 28th, 2005 at 9:27 am
Chloe;
Have a beautiful send-off for your dear cat. Think of the nice long life that she has had. I hope her strong life spirit enters the atmosphere and helps someone else who needs it. I am thinking about a very sick baby boy (not mine, thank God) today and posted on my blog about it. There is too much sadness to go around today.
I hope you stay well.
Goodbye, sweet Nikifororos.
Cathy
December 28th, 2005 at 10:28 am
I’m sorry to hear about your cat. H lost his cat Lambert a few months ago and it made us realise how big a part of our lives the little guy was.
take care. Hugs and stuff.
Chris
December 28th, 2005 at 10:36 am
so sorry about your cat. i love that you called her a proud creature. that’s beautiful.
December 28th, 2005 at 10:38 am
That’s a wonderful poem
I’m really sorry for your loss but I think you’ll meet Nikiforos agin someday. Cats are soulful beings.
It’s funny because if I ever get a cat, and I will, I want it to have a greek name because I think it suits them really well. It’s sophisticated and serious.
December 28th, 2005 at 10:45 am
Oh Cloe, I am so very sad that your dear sweet cat is gone. I know that animals are just little angels sent to comfort our souls here on Earth–they become such and integral part of our lives and our hearts. Many hugs to you.
December 28th, 2005 at 10:48 am
Τhis is a feel-our-warm-and-supporting-hug-comment to your post. We feel with you and hope you are doing fine. Βίκυ και Οδυσσεας
December 28th, 2005 at 11:19 am
Cool poem, an excellent way to honor your friend.
Bye, Niki. I’m sure you’ll be missed.
December 28th, 2005 at 11:35 am
i absolutely love t.s. eliot. just remember that your cat lived a very good life and eventually the sadness will pass
December 28th, 2005 at 12:30 pm
O no! I’m so sorry that Nikiforos passed away. The death of a pet can be devstating.
December 28th, 2005 at 2:02 pm
Thank you all so much. It was lovely to have like minded people here for me.
Pink paws all over xx
December 28th, 2005 at 6:15 pm
Hi Chloe, I’m really sorry about your cat. I like the picture…
Big hug
December 28th, 2005 at 6:51 pm
So sorry about Nikiforos Chloe, i uploaded my fav cat Alexandra’s photo
See U!
December 28th, 2005 at 7:04 pm
I had 4 Cats few years back when I was in 9th standard. It feels very hard when you lose them.
Take care…
December 29th, 2005 at 2:23 am
The poem rings so true to me because we called our cat Puss, but his real name was Sheba. I wonder what he named himself.
Sorry about your cat.
December 29th, 2005 at 7:56 am
If someone dies, you shared a lifetime with, it seems that he/she takes a part of your heart with him/her. It is like a chamber has been closed in your heart, transfered into shrine of memories.
I wish to you that this shrine will be warm and colourful and not totally closed!
Because they do not die, they are actually living - within your heart!
December 30th, 2005 at 8:43 am
I sent you a message…just wanted to let you know how sorry I am.
Big Hugs.
Connie
December 30th, 2005 at 11:34 am
Connie
I know! i replied but i keep getting an error message. I sent it again just now and hope it reaches you!
Thank you so much!
December 30th, 2005 at 12:44 pm
Sorry about the death of your cat. You must be missing him very much..
January 4th, 2006 at 3:28 am
i’m so sorry to hear that…just remember the good memories you have of her and i think you’ll feel fine!