For Oreo

For Oreo

You were always there for me,
To bring me joy when I was sad.
You used to quarrel with your sister,
Yet you would sleep together every night,
After you put her in a headlock and kick her chin,
And she would pull your tail to get back at you.
I remember once when you were young,
You got into the garage and were presumed escaped.
Mom made missing posters and just when we were going
To go look for you and post the posters,
We went into the garage and found you
Wedged between two boxes!
You had stayed there all day and worried my mom sick.
I remember you used to walk along the railing
Until one day you slipped
And with each back leg on either side of the railing
You pulled yourself forward with your two front paws.
You were always a curious boy,
And when you were a few years old,
When mom was painting the wall,
You got just a little too close, and woops!
You got red paint on your right paw,
And you tried to wipe it off on the wall
Leaving your paw prints on the wall.
Then you ran downstairs in great embarrassment,
And would not let me see your paw.
You used to chase birds and when mom was mad at you one night,
You went out and caught yourself a bird.
Then you brought mom a little present, very proud of yourself.
I remember when you climbed up onto the cupboard and
Couldn’t get down, so about an hour later, you ran down that cupboard.
Finally, the first time someone stepped on your tail, you went crazy.
You ran up the stairs and leaped at the glass squares
Because you couldn’t find the broken square you liked to use as a door.
I will never forget you.