The day they brought you home I remember so well,
My life went from calm, quiet to a living hell,
The first day you slept while it was still daylight so bright,
When it turned dark then you cried the whole damn night,

I got up to see what all the fuss and crying was all about,
But they closed the door and for some reason they kept me out,
The days turned to months and you finally calmed down,
It became more tolerable to have you around,

Then one day while lying on the floor you started to crawl,
You got a big kick out of pestering me and chasing me down the hall,
Then to my amazement you stood up like I do when I beg,
You walked from the couch and wobbled and fell on my leg,

It went steadily down hill from there for me having you there,
Like a flea you seemed to always be in my hair,
I put up with you and stayed out of your way,
But things changed suddenly that one memorable day,

You played a dirty trick on me and gave me a hug and said I love you,
From that day on we were the very best of friends,
I would look forward to each day together we would spend,
I watched you go off to school as you got on the bus,
I didn't like you gone but I know that you must,

But ever day when you got home we ran and we played,
Always with you no matter what I always stayed,
I remember the day you got so very sick and almost died,
I wanted so bad to be there close by you side,

I stuck by you no matter what happened the good and the bad,
Through the happy times and even when things were very sad,
The years passed like a flash and one day I was old,
One morning as I lay there by your bed I felt so cold,

You ran to your dad and said come dad something is wrong,
He came in and with a tear in his eye said he doesn't have long,
You held my head and cried as I lay there dying, my head on your arm,
Though I was dying I never felt so safe, loved and so warm,

Then my eyes dimmed and I heard you sobbing and felt the tears fall,
The last thing I remember is that little boy chasing me down the hall,
You don't know it but I still look down on you after all these many years,
And when someone mentions my name I see in your eyes a little tear,

It is nice to know that you hold fond memories of us still,
We still love each other and in our hearts we always will.

 by L. D. Millsap