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This poem reflects on the lasting influence of imagination and friendship through the story of Calvin, an elderly man filled with regret over not recognizing the magic in life, who encounters his childhood friend, Hobbes the tiger, in a hospital room.

Experience a moving journey highlighting the deep bond between Calvin and Hobbes, showcasing themes of love, loss, and friendship intertwined with elements of fantasy.

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In sterile white, a harsh fluorescent hum,
A shadow falls, “Calvin?” a voice, soft as plum.
He stirs, eyelids heavy, gritty with sand,
The sterile air, a foe he can’t withstand.

Susie stands there, her hand, a weathered glove,
Wrinkled with love, a testament to their 54 years of love.
“Did you find him?” his voice, a rasping cough,
A weary sigh, a life hanging by a thread, near enough.

A trembling smile, a tear tracks a salty path,
From her worn purse, a hint of lavender bath salts.
A flash of orange, a memory unbound,
Hobbes, the tiger, dreams on memory ground.

“Hobbes,” he whispers, voice a threadbare sheet,
A childhood friend, a warmth, a comforting heat.
The doll transforms, not cloth, but fur so real,
A silent witness, the love they both feel.

A kiss for Susie, the scent of her lilac hair,
“I love you,” a whisper on the sterile air.
Alone with Hobbes, stories in his eyes,
A lifetime shared, beneath twilight skies.

He speaks of love, a melody, sweet and slow,
Of Susie’s laugh, a melody that used to flow.
Of children’s laughter, echoes in the hall,
His voice cracks, regret, a bitter, metallic gall.

“I couldn’t see you,” he rasps, a choked sob’s hold,
“All I saw was a doll, a story untold.”
“You grew up, Grandpa Calvin,” Hobbes replies, a rumble deep,
“But in our dreams, we soared, promises we’d keep.”

Tears welling, a promise, a broken vow,
A bond of friendship, a flickering, dying bough.
“Goodbye, my friend,” a final sigh escapes his lips,
“Thank you,” a whisper, as life slowly slips.

Susie returns, a symphony of gentle sighs,
Family in tow, love in their tear-filled eyes.Francis, the youngest, a whirlwind of glee,
A mirror image, staring back at thee.
A threadbare tiger, a whispered plea,
“He’s just a stuffed tiger,” Francis says doubtfully.

Calvin smiles, a secret, a twinkle in his eye,
A spark of wonder, a chance for a last goodbye.
With a wink he whispers, barely a breath,
“Offer him a tuna sandwich, see what happens next.”

The metallic tang of blood fills the air,
As sleep descends, a final, peaceful prayer.
Hobbes whispers soft, a purr, a promise untold,
“I’ll guard him from death, a story yet to unfold.”

One last adventure, a soul takes flight,
With Hobbes beside him, in the fading light.
A life well-lived, a love that transcends time,
In dreams and stories, a love forever in its prime.