STUDIO MICHELLE BERNARD

you’re a big boy now
mr. porter/

turning 9 today
that’s 63
to me
still just as centered and calm as when you turned 4

(28).

i named you after a bodybuilder, PORTER CATRELL

though your strength is deeper than BODy

small children
they pull on your ears
fingers closing near your eyes
you don’t react –keep licking their little hands

on the airplane

(under the seat in front of me)
you’re quiet without medication-
only need a “shhh, it’s okay… i love you”/

good boy

a Manhattan dog needs rules.

taught you at 5 months old
no bark in the morning, you’ll wake the neighbors
so you grrrr instead, underbite protruding from your tight black lips

mr. porter, my model
of
ease

you are my display of ZEN each day

you are a big boy now

i wanna grow

to be big

as you are naturally