Un Homage

You’ve been watching me some time, I know,
I see you from afar;

Don’t think that I don’t notice when

You’re crouched behind that car.

Or climbing up my drainpipes before

Resting on the ledge,

Tapping on my window and then

Falling in the hedge.

The first time that I saw you I did think

You were alright,

We had a hoot and I was sad

To return home that night.

We chased the pigeons, ate some treats 

And had a wee or three,

Sniffed some stuff and made some pals

And ran away from leads.

When I was taken home I recall

Thinking “What a shame,

I didn’t get her number,

Didn’t even ask her name.”

Little did I know that I would get to 

Know you well.

(Too well, and that your name - Saffy -

Would come to be a warning knell.)

It started slow, with daisys pinned around

Your little neck.

Un homage, I thought, how flattering!

I rather like this chick.

But then you growled at other hounds who

Came up close to me.

“Saff!” I said, “Do, please, behave!

There’s always room for three.”

Your soft face turned a shade of pink

I’d never seen before,

If we’d been home (not in the park)

You would’ve slammed a door.

Next day you dyed your coat the deepest,

Darkest shade of black.

I only clocked you by the wilting daisy

Drooping round your neck.

I trotted near to ask you what had

Happened to yourself,
Why you’d gone all goth on me

And if you’d lost your mental health.

You turned and tutted, raised a brow

And told me I had changed,

So it was then I understood

That you were quite deranged.

And from that day you’ve staked me round

The depths of London town.

Far down to Brixton, east to Bow

And up to Hackney Downs.

And when I hear that name, Saffroon,

Whistled on the wind

I know you are not far behind

And jump out of my skin.