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"My Shadow" (by Joe DiMino)I was never an animal person
Not that I have distain
For tail wagging, jumping and licking;
Purring in the lap sleeping
Whatever your best-friend poison:
Little finny scaly things,
Colorful snipped wings (I bet they like that);
Fine if thats for youbut not for me
welluntil
This little black stray
Hopped the fence into the backyard
One winters night (day would be a better rhyme
But less factual);
On silent-padded-paws,
As if the greatest burglar
(King of nefarious chores)
With all the air
Of a proper owner
His illegitimate claim
Went to the patio chair
My guess, a nap he wanted
Off the cold ground
Beneath the awning
Protected from frost;
So he jumped-up, laid there
With all the air
Of Mafia boss
(So, in time, I felt ordered to pay two bowls,
For food and fresh water)
Cheaper than my slaughter;
As I said,
Im not an animal person;
But surely a landlord was heno boarder;
Aristocrat, in a low to ground,
Sleek and cuddly sense
Once off the fence for a while,
Out of the mob
And own his-own
Though no purr(yet with family inclinations
Soon controlling the house);
As I said, Im no animal lover;
Would not think to go out
And acquire a pet;
But here we had case for fudge:
The stray having chosen me seemed
An honorable pleasort of a medal bestowed,
I reasoneda royal-badge of the cat psyche
So to speak; which, oddly enough gave him ultimate right to share
Everything of mine with methough gratefully I must confess;
Even my favorite wine:
We made toast over many a glass:
Talked civilized and primal past;
Often getting our lineages crossed,
Finding more in common
Than one might think
Especially this thing about
Brushing and petting
For which we both admitted a fondness;
Myself occasionally sounding
A purrhe looked at me with suspicion
With eyes so deep and delicious;
Wellenough with this
Sentimental dribble;
As I said, Im not an animal person
But if there is a heaven,
And I know, certainly, someday to be departed
Between worlds;
Perhaps, Shadow, I named him appropriately
For always having followed me
Around housewarming my steps,
Attached to my soul
Seeming inseparable
As I said, when I leaveand then if
Fortunate enough to arrive,
Perhaps someday I will look down
To see this little guy
My beloved Shadow in late life
Has now taken
To following me
About the sky
.
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