I wandered the streets

[image error]looking for a home

looking to be welcomed

looking to be loved

You found me.

You took me in

gave me shelter

gave me love

gave me hope.

I ate the finest vittles

Slept warmly on your bed

I reveled in the gentle caresses

behind my ears, down my spine

along my underbelly

with tender fingertips

and feathery whispers

You told me

I was beautiful

You needed me

I was amazing

You wanted me

I was important.

Your loyal pet

through everything

and everywhere

Comforting you in hard times

Celebrating with you in the good

Listening to your every word

with genuine care and attention,

empathy and silent understanding

Fiercely protective

Genuinely devoted

You bathed me

with soap

and love

I felt special

and brave

and safe

I’d found my home.

But things changed.

You changed.

You stopped letting me inside

annoyed at my presence

You stopped feeding me

angry when I begged for scraps

You stopped loving me

withholding soft words and touches

You called me disgusting.

I tried to remind you

of all that I added to your life

of how much I loved you

and how much you needed me

But you didn’t remember.

Others around you

made sure I didn’t get inside

They kicked me, ignored me, starved me

they never liked you having me anyway.

Kick a dog enough times

eventually it gets the hint.

I don’t belong to you anymore.

I am no longer wanted,

needed, or special.

And there is

nothing

I can do

to change that.

So I wander off

a stray once again

looking for a home

where someone

will love me.