You brought him home in early autumn With softer fur and brighter eyes You placed him gently by my shoulder And praised his perfect little size At first I thought we would be brothers And share the blanket every night But when your tired arms went searching You always pulled him to your side You always hold that one While I remain beside the wall I tell myself it does not matter But I still notice after all He travels with you to the sofa He joins the movies and the tea His face appears in every picture Where mine was once supposed to be I know he never tried to hurt me He did not ask to be adored But jealousy can enter softly Through any half-forgotten door You always hold that one And leave my waiting arms alone A crowded bed can still feel empty When affection finds one home One night the thunder shook the windows You reached through darkness in a fright Your hand passed over newer softness And found my worn-out paw that night You pulled me close without a question As though no time had passed between Your heartbeat knew an older pathway That years could never make unseen The morning came; you held us both there The newest toy against your knee I learned your love had many rooms And one remained unlocked for me You often hold that one But I no longer count each turn A favorite moment may grow distant Yet faithful love can still return
