You Came Into My Life

You came into my life – lost – abandoned
Homeless and wandering – wanting – needing
Scrounging for scraps – begging – running
Through the traveled train station – waiting – surviving
Hunger’s fanged chops – snatching – stealing
Swallowing whole garbage – wieners – tossed
Fishheads and tails – insects – crawling
Itching, scratching, hurting – lice – infested
Fur fighting coarsely – ruddy – thinly blonde.

I came into your life – needing – love
A life spent scrounging for tenderness – smacked – hurt
Newsprint on my nose – shy – wary
A desperate heart – seeking – a classified ad
I am a puppy on a mailbox – reward – rescue
Naïve and searching – believing – in belief
Thinking but not knowing – make believe – a wish
Made for you to find – me – salvation
In a slobbery kiss – love – at first sight.

Beautiful in your eyes – love – unconditional
Swaddled in a blanket – held – taken
Rescued, unwrapped – you emerge – into
My immature, unmended – heart – whole
You make my animal – human – united
Family dependent – needing – giving
Teaching to stay – stop – sit
Teaching to love – forgive – accept
Selfless in each other – adoration – Friendship.

You came into my life – a baby tooth – on a string
Pulled to make room – wrestling plastic bottles – whining
Your way onto a double bed – spooning – into my chest
Your fur sinks into my heart – clings – to all my clothes
Following me everywhere – pocket dog – watching me
My life is yours – my life – is you
Heartache and life-break – there you stay – fetching
Strength like so many autumn days – chucking it – chasing it
Your sprinter heart – your enduring start – you last
You surpass all – racing – out pacing
All but our love – a muzzle – nuzzled into a cheek.