Promise Poem by Tenli Kim

Eight weeks old
Eight like IU's song
A ball of fluff, soft and shy
Slept calmly through the night
Intelligent, a fast learner
A few months forward-
Slightly larger fluffball
Rolling and pouncing in the tiled yard
Chubby like a butterball
Stubby legs, small paws
Black patches all over
Then older still
Tall and lanky
Barrel chest stuck out
Triangular ears sitting wonky on a fuzzy black head,
Looking haphazardly placed
An "ugly duckling" phase, or so they all said
But you grew even more
To the point where I was shocked
By your sheer size, your long, lanky legs,
Your soft-as-down, wavy white fluff,
Contrasting with more patches of midnight black,
The white blaze down your long, elegant snout
Stark against the jet-black
You are grown now
An adult, past adolescence, tall and lean and so handsome
You have learned so much, gained so much, braved so much
My son, my father, my lover, my crazy uncle, my everything
My world
I swear-
No, I promise to you
That I will always keep you safe
That I will always make sure you are happy and flourishing
That even in your final days, I will give comfort
I will let you go with dignity and pride
For however long you are with me
I will make sure you are loved
I promise you.