Furry

A poem by Croc O'Dile of TigerMUCK which captures a bit of what it is to be furry.

If the true meaning of furry you wish to understand

You must think in terms of paw and not hand

You must release your mentality from society's cage

For furry prefurs no race, sex, persuasion or age

You must sort through the hype and the exploitation

Because to be furry needs no justification

It is to reach out and embrace the unknown

To be surrounded by friends and yet still be alone

It is not a gimmick or a political movement

It's nothing so pretentious as a method of improvement

It's only to seek solace in the presence of friends

For when one is furry, the search never ends

It is sometimes to be controlled by one's emotions

It is to often be unsure of depths of devotion

It is the sweet pain of impossible dreams

It is never quite as close or as far as it seems

It is feelings being known without words being spoken

It is the inevitable occasional heart being broken

It is the type of love that now seems cliche

It's experience gained from having learned the hard way

It's a smurgle, a fuzzle, a rumble or purr

It's scales and whiskers and tails and fur

It's what we are, not outside but within

It's the binding force that makes us all kin

It's a howl in greeting to friends held dear

It's a bristling growl when confronted by fear

It's a friendly lick or scritch to show that we care

It's a deep understanding, a compassion that's rare

If what it is to be furry you still don't comprehend

Then consider this advice, my curious friend

If you're willing to respect that which you don't understand

Then come take my paw and I'll take your hand.

-- Croc O'Dile w/help from Tony DeMatio - 6/95