A Guardian's Tail

It’s been a few years, but the memory lingers As though her soft fur still touches my fingers A tornado passed through and the power went out Provoking another severe colitis bout Breaking into a sweat while violent winds blew Frightening noise sounded like a train passing through The next thing I knew a gentle touch crossed my face As Katy hoped my suffering she could erase Her tail now my mustache as I opened my eyes To peer into hers that shone like emerald skies For more than an hour I’d been lying on the floor Huddled with stomach pain next to my office door She’d been asleep on my desk last I could recall And apparently I’d frightened her with my fall Though I’d felt so alone, I had been very wrong A guardian watched over me with a love strong For twenty years she served as my faithful anchor And though she’s gone now, I continue to thank her