Mr. Kitty would flog

The neighborhood dogs-

This neither safe nor healthy

He loved to snap pics

Being chased by dogs, miffed

His technique was not very stealthy

One day as he ran

He slipped on a can

And let fly the bats in his belfry

With hounds of hell

Hot on his tail

He took his very last selfie...

-DeRicki

the fact that I had to

does not make it hurt

any less

I keep checking the rear view mirror

and for missed calls

late in the night

The recollection of your lifeless body, frail and riddled with tubes, has haunted my every response to you since the day you awoke.

I live in paralyzing fear that you may, at any time and without warning, once again succumb to the sadness that threatens to consume you.

This newfound reality that we find ourselves in has transformed my identity as your parent, replacing strength with weakness.

Your misery, my exquisite darling, is now my greatest vulnerability-making any glimpse of happiness within you my unshakable addiction.

The slightest downturn of your lips elicits responses from me that rail against every parental instinct I possess-to ensure you remain here.

With me. Perpetually striving for One. More. Day.