Darwin was our goofy little guy

Who filled up our hearts on his very first try.

And funny from the first, in a literal way,

Because he was born on April Fools’ Day.

He crept to the corner in new-home distress,

Not knowing his future was full of the best.

His sleek grey coat with white spot in front.

Confusing meow, sometimes like a grunt.

The playful-est cat I ever did know.

Packages and papers. Where’d Darwin go?

He helped the whole house with humor and love.

Drop what you’re doing; go get the glove!

But stranger danger? Run under the bed.

And when the coast clears, come cuddle instead.

All day and all night, he had to be near.

We felt the same. Our love was quite clear.

To play all damn day was his favorite way,

So sister’d get sour to keep him at bay.

Where is that big girl? He better keep watch.

But don’t stare over there, or he’ll clock Corbett’s crotch.

Carpet ride fun, ‘round the house and again,

‘Cause if Dolores did it, he must have a spin.

He cuddled his crayon and sprang with his springs.

When done with his fun, strutted away with the strings.

So alike we were, me and my boy.

Both a bit bumbly and baulk at big noise.

When he would get scared, he’d get a good smother.

But it went two ways. We both calmed each other.

He helped me to see when time’s wasted with worry.

No need for nerves, not all's bleak and blurry.

Feeling his breath up close to my face.

Those moments with him cannot be replaced. 

The goofiest gait and the tenderest taps.

I’ll never forget his friendly face pats.

Randomly reaching, he must have a feel.

Try to sneak by, and he’d swipe at your heel.

A mad dash scramble when he heard a crowd,

And slowly re-emerging when it stopped being so loud.

He faced unfair fights that felt frightfully wrong,

But he would defeat ‘em because he was strong.

He would hug us and kiss us and groom us a lot,

But did all his licking in one tiny spot.

He baked the best biscuits without any bread.

See a free arm? He’d lay down his head.

Pawing at our plates to take a crack at our crusts,

Or dining on desserts, cause he learned watching us. 

So soft, so gentle, and oh so sublime.

He just wanted everybody to have a good time.