Too soon, growing to independence
You left us in the arms of a friend.
You became 'Gonzalis'
Your bother, 'Speedy'
And you began to teach your human
The pleasure and passion
That is
Rats

Some time later
Your human decided to move abroad
And you two brothers
Return home.

Too soon - the sudden surprise
Speedy lying still and cold one morning.
No explanation, no goodbyes.
And you are alone
Adrift.

Then we lose your daddy too,
And my lovely, tender Braveheart
Is lonely too
No introductions needed,
Desperate for rattie company
You cuddle and comfort
Each other.
Stilling the tears

A time for the quiet living
Of rattie life
As if you were made
Just to be together
Always touching, shadowing each other.
'Til Braveheart reached
The end of his journeying
And I am left
Crying for both of you.
Unable to watch you alone again
I gave you back your rattie mum,
And the snuggling and comforting began again.

Now it's your turn
My sweet, precious boy
Time to lay down your poor broken body
And walk into a peaceful place.
Time to say my last goodbye
Time to let go
But never stop loving.
And Fizzle too, so old
So ill
Together in life,
And now
Together in your dying.