glass, silk, ebony, fur

Can’t recall the experiment exactly,
but it seems to me that rubbing
an ebony rod on cat fur generated
an electric charge.
I say that to distract myself from
the weeping I did yesterday
when I hauled out the suitcase
and discovered it was covered
with gray cat fur.
My old gray cat,
who, until she got too old
and deaf and wobbly,
had more dignity and self-reliance
than a Special Forces Commando
in full stealth mode—
well, she took to lying there
when she had to get away
to prepare for death.
That gray fur from last spring
had more charge than any
ebony rod will ever see.
I wrap you in silk,
bless you with crystal;
and wish you on your way.