Light a candle for Michael
who dive bombed heads and toes
and was mightily plagued by bed mice and laundry lumps
Light a candle for Michael
Who played peck-a-tail with magpies
and tag team chased squirrels with Merry
Light a candle far Michael
who came bearing gifts of snakes and mice
and decorated chairs with feathers
For Michael who slept on James
and followed him,
a shadow in the grass
a tail tip above the seed heads
escorting him out to play.
For Michael who stayed behind
as his brother and sisters slipped away
who stayed on as his people grew up and moved on
and kept company with the ones left behind.
Light a candle for Michael
who stayed on with aching hips
and dimming eyes and muffled ears
to love and cuddle and keep company
Light a candle for Michael
sitting at the edge of life
looking into the distance
waiting for the fading night to set him free.
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