His velvety coat
Has grown dusty and stale
The white on his face
Has turned gray
The beans in my pup
Through the years, without fail
Deflated him once
Rolled away

I long ago freed
His ears stitched to his head
When I one day thought
He looked sad
Then many years past
I took needle and thread
To patch up his paw
Just a tad

He smells a bit odd
Like a mothball or grime
I don't know what those
Stains could be
For several years now
Many years past his prime
He's perched on my shelf
Watching me

I'm now seventeen
Not quite legally grown
Yet have countless things
On my mind
To college I'll go
Off to live on my own
And of course, that pup
Stays behind

A bit of guilt comes
When his eye catches mine
I recognize that
Friendly gleam
For I'll always know
There's a place deep inside
Where Spot protects my
Childhood dreams