To Survive

She may be soft
But she is not
Was never
Your pet
How you underestimate
The size and
Lethal nature of
Her claws
Once used
Long ago
To survive
Recently limited to
Kneading
Now fully extended
Needed once again
To survive
Ready to strike
Should you fail to learn
To apply
The knowledge you have been given
The opportunity offered
To stand beside
Rather than to stand
In the way

He may be timid
But he is
Was never
Your punch-line
How you overlook
The depth and
Piercing nature of
His eyes
Once used
Long ago
To survive
Recently limited to
Reading
Now open wide
Needed once more
To survive
Ready to expose
Should you fail to realize
To understand
The awareness you have been granted
The possibility presented
To walk beside
Rather than to walk
On top

They may be different
But they are not
Were never
Your inferior
How you forget
The weight and
Blood-soaked nature of
Our shared past
Once used
Long ago
To survive
Recently limited to
Drip-bleeding
Now cauterized
Needed once more
To survive
Ready to grow
To help you embrace
To comprehend
The potential that lies before us
The hope that lies dormant
To stand together
Rather than to fall
Apart

You may be flawed
But you are not
Were never
Without hope
How you fail to grasp
The power and
Responsibility that comes with
Your position
Once used
Long ago
To survive
Recently limited to
Breeding
Now ignorant
Needed once more
To evolve
Ready to shift
To help you adapt
To accept
The future that beckons us forward
The inevitability of balance
To stand shoulder to shoulder
Rather than neck to neck
Together