To You, My Human Mother

My name is Princess Abigail

The shelter called me Abbey

When first I entered my forever home

I was a little crabby

*

Humans were not kind to me

They left me on the street

I’d gotten only heartbreak

From every one I’d meet

*

Shuffled in and out of shelters

Five agonizing years

Nobody ever cared about

My pain and all my fears

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But then you came to meet me

To offer me a home

Where I would finally be safe and loved

No longer would have to roam

*

The day that you first met me

I bit another girl

Which near destroyed any chance I had

Of finding a better world

*

They said I had to quarantine

And offered you another

But you waited for the full two weeks

To become my human mother

*

You told me it was love at first sight

Can’t say the same for me

For I certainly wasn’t warm or cuddly

I was mean as I could be

I tried to tear your face off

I hissed and snarled and screamed

But little did I know back then

It was the home of which I’d dreamed

*

I couldn’t really see it then

I was vulnerable and scared

But you were always patient with me

Really nothing I should have feared

*

Not once, have you hurt me

Or made me feel alone

You’ve shown me only caring and love

In a safe and stable home

*

So please forgive my wickedness

I know I seemed obtuse

But all I’d ever known before

Was rejection and abuse

*

And if by chance I bite you

Or scratch you with my claws

I know you will forgive me

For all of my faux pas

*

For nowhere in the whole wide world

Could I ever find another

Wonderful person to care for me

Like you, my human mother.