We were both so very young

I was lonely, I was lost, and so

I’d been searching for a feline friend

I found that and so much more in you seven years ago

I walked along the rows of cats

Gazing at each one so lovingly

Unfortunately the didn’t seem to be

Too interested in camaraderie

From their food to their companions

Cat are notoriously finicky

You don’t choose them, they choose you

And so far none picked me

Dejected, I was sitting in an open space

The last cats in the row

Were playing with a string I held

But little did I know

You were watching me from high above

In your hiding place

I don’t know how I missed you there

I should’ve seen that striking face

But you saw me and you made your move

You jumped right in my lap

And to my surprised delight

You purred as you settled down for a nap

You must’ve known I was the one

The one who’s heart you stole

I didn’t know I was only half

Until you made me whole

There was no doubt in our minds

We both knew then and there

We’d been waiting all our lives

To start one that we share

I took you home and from then on

You were my partner in crime

The peanut butter to my jelly

Until the end of time

When I came home from school each day

After we’d been all on our own

You were always there to greet me

With a meow of “Welcome home!”

Each night you’d lay with me in bed

And keep the nightmares at bay

If one slipped passed your watchful guard

I’d reach out for your comfort, and it was never far away

We lived our lives as one, not two

And as time began to pass

We watched each other grow and learn

Those years went by so fast

We grew older and we reached a point

Where our days when we felt good

Became less and less abundant

We weren’t living like we should

You lost weight, your fur grew dull

My heart began to flutter

But we never let it keep us down

Nothing could, not when we had each other

You always knew when I needed you

You’d nudge my hand to say “don’t cry”

And then I’d smile and feel some strength

To face the day, or at least to try

I love you more than life itself

And I don’t need words to know

That you love me just the same

Because in every way it shows

So to my precious Brownie boy

There’s nothing left to say

Except that you’re my greatest gift

And I wish you happy birthday