Max was my first squirrel tiny and small,
He was to me my squeaking ball.
I found him in my garden with his eyes fused,
I tried to open them but he refused.

I nurtured and nourished him using and injection syringe,
Fed him tile he was strong and on life’s fringe.
He was my pet who sat on my head,
When I played the piano, he ran my neck instead.

Till one day my cousin fed him pizza,
And hell!! He became such a pleaser.
No longer did he want to play with me,
He wanted to be just wild and free.

So I left him alone in his room for that day,
He enjoyed himself thoroughly in every way.
Then he began demanding more,
To satiate his hunger and to make him soar.

I was helpless, I fed him well,
But he loved pain and put me through hell.
Till one day I went to university alone,
He cracked his leg and ate his bone.

That was when I realised I was all alone,
With all my pains and sins alone to atone.
With the famiy I made a choice
To fulfil his dream and give him a voice.

With tears in my eyes I took him to the vet,
For all his love, joy, care and happiness, I repaid his debt.
I had to inject him with liquid saline,
Not once but twice to help him find divine.

As he closed his eyes to the world,
He joined his paws together and death unfurled.
It rained torrential on that day,
As I, him in his mortal grave did lay.

For he was my pet squirrel, my little Max,
The one for whom I many ruels did relax.
Today he is one with infinity,
Victim of his deed of non-conformity.

By Anisha Achankunju (C) 10th January 2011