I wandered the streets
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.
Know My Worth 