Bandit's Claw

A visit left behind from a best friend,
The softest, cuddliest touch of love.
Sleeping on my lap leaving a warm shiver down my spine,
Meowing and meowing day and night, without a stop.
We pull and scratch and yell and scream
And pick out fleas within his fur.
He meets a female and has kittens
Everything is changing and it’s like he’s forgotten us.
But he hasn’t.
He purrs and bumps us with his head demanding a pat.
But then he starts to grow old
And his time has come.
We don’t even get to say goodbye.
It’s too late, he walks away to a peaceful place,
But I know he loves me,
Because he was strong and brave and walked away
So it wouldn’t attract his prey to hurt us.
I will never forget him, his ways, or his love for me.