Tuesday, October 26, 2010

For Teddy

It's always been my contention
That a dog should be
big enough,
that if I accidentally
step on her
(and yes, I've always thought
my dog should be a her)
I would do
no lasting harm
And I've stuck with
that formula
until now

I've had
a lab/beagle
a white lab/mystery
a beagle/lab/whippet
(the best guess offered)
and lost them all

That left me,
melancholy
unwilling
to let a soft, furry friend
steal into my heart
yet again.

But Teddy, you did
Your the first boy dog
who stole my heart
You were so unique
(He could catch veggies,
thrown over my shoulder,
while making salad
And liked them)
He was my shadow
faithfully following me
even at the end,
when it was mostly
three, and sometimes
two legs,
which carried him
And silly dog,
he wouldn't go
outside
at all
unless I
was the one who
opened that door

But he wasn't my dog,
he was on loan
I had the complete
privilege
to care for him
as his life waned,
and his “person”
traveled
her own 
painful journey

Then yesterday
the day arrived
when in love
in compassion
in gratitude
we let you go
with lots of petting
and lots of love,
and whispered words
Good-bye, my
Teddy Bear.
Thanks
and
good-bye.

It's One Shot Wednesday.  Write a poem, and link up.  That simple!

P.S There's a new dog in my life, also on loan.  A tiny, 7 pound Yorkie.  Perhaps it's time to expand my horizons and try a new formula.  Just hope I don't step on him...

11 comments:

June_Butterfly said...

This is just lovely!First I thought it was a teddy bear.haha,

I love dogs.But once I lost one when I was child and my parents didn't allow me to get another one.Her name was Whitey.

I guess it is painful to say goodbye.But memories are always there to lighten your day.I truly hope you don't step on your new dog.haha.Happy one shot!

Anonymous said...

Nice writing - you capture the sense of loss we feel when we lose a loved pet very well

Brian Miller said...

awww...sounds like a wonderful companion...so sad to see him go...catch veggies? really. nice.

Khakjaan Wessington said...

Sorry about your dog. I think you're too close to the subject to write about it yet. Prose w/ linebreaks.

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

So sorry for your loss. We had to put our cat down a few months ago. I think we might just get some goldfish.

JStar said...

This is a sweet tribute...I am not an animal person but my childhood dog stole my heart...He was the best friend?companion anyone could ask for...

Melissa Campbell said...

I'm not an animal-lover either, but it is amazing how attached we become. I always said I would never have an inside dog, but now my daughter and her husband bring theirs, and he has the run of the house, and I actually love him. :) I enjoyed reading your one-shot.

Shashidhar Sharma said...

Some times we need to let go.. and this one verse I guess is the first step towards that process... I enjoyed reading this one tribute...

ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
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One Photo said...

This is a lovely tribute - I am not a pet person but I know many people who are and appreciate how attached people become to their pets.

Jenny said...

Beautiful tribute. Your writing and expression of emotion is just magnficent.

I'm sorry.

Mona said...

A Dog is surely a man's best friend. sadly , all men are not their friends...