Jorge, the Bilingual Snow Leopard

a cookie for each hand
mayonnaise sandwiches for lunch
sleeping curved into my body
he loved to suck corn cobs
spat creamed spinach back every time
saber toothed growl
at six he threw himself on me
the last of a lifetime of children
my friend

Christmas
I brought him Jorge
the bilingual snow leopard
at Easter Jorge needed heart sugery
and got it
large stitches running down his middle

his thirteenth summer
he walks through the room
eyes averted
how was your day, sweetie?
no answer
he is suddenly tall
dressed in black
his voice dropping
he has to go