Redfur

Mama unintentionally pointed it out to me, while I got verklempt on the phone

Since she and I had never been apart this long

And though I don't mind it

When she tells me twelve times that she misses me lots and lots, I get verklempt

And then she says, "How's Redfur?"

I chuckle and repeat her question

I say, "Well, he's fine, sitting on the bookshelf, as usual"

I tell her about the FYS identity photo he's featured in, and she says-

"I'm looking at his twin, and he's holding out his heart saying,

"Oh, I miss my girl!"

But he's holding his heart out, saying,

"Go for it, girl!"

And it occurs to me that that's where I get it

He holds his heart out, both of them-

And though their threads are shredded and their fabric faded-

Their hearts are still in their hands for all the world to see

Yes, I know I'm analyzing teddy-bears

And my analogy seems so much gorier

But that's where I get it, I'm sure.

I'm conditioned to want to be this way

And even if it's pretentious and selfish

Mama supports me in this effort-

Though, I think she'd support me in any effort, since she is my mother, after all