We Carry You Still

I am walking
This week
For the first time
Without you

And remembering

When you were

Just a pup
Learning to explore
Your world
Sometimes the walks
Would get too long
And we would carry you
All tired and snuggly
The rest of the way home

On your last day here

It was again hard
For you to walk
And we carried you then
Wrapped in calm loving arms
Soothed with soft words and gentle hugs
To your place
Of final rest

And as I am walking today

It is clear that
We carry you still

We will carry you always

The memory of you
The lessons you taught us
 
We carry you still sweet boy
No longer in our arms
But deeply and forever
Within the most tender place
Of our hearts

 

 

You Live On

You live on
In kindness

Anytime a heart is warmed by a smile

Anytime people sit peacefully together
With no need for words

Anytime disappointment comes
But forgiveness comes quicker

In every act of acceptance of people for who they are

In knowing and loving something deeply and well
In boundless love for the simple joys in life

You live on
 

For Noble, 7/8/2004 -7/25/2016

We Had A Deal

We had a deal
My dog and I
That we’d give
Each other
A good life

That whoever

Died first
Would be at peace

And whoever was left

Wouldn’t stay sad
For too long

And would surround

The emptiness
With happy memories
Of silly looks
And wiggly hugs
And simple
Loving presence

And would hold

These memories close
And well up with thankfulness
For the gift of the other

And marvel at
Our shared good fortune
That we got to live
For a special time
In this season of life
Together

 

The World I Am Building

A world
Where I push
My opinions
On you
And don’t ever listen
To yours

A world
Where you
Are worthless
To me
Unless you
Share my views

A world

Where I don’t
Care to know
Your story
Unless it
Enhances mine

A world
Where my
History and experience
Count for
More than
Yours

A world
Where you
Are always
An idiot
And I
Am always
Wise

This is not

The world
I am building

The world

I am building
Values you and
Values me

The world

I am building
Is we
Not I

The world
I am building
Is constant learning
And give and take
And forever trying
To get it right

The world

I am building
Is I wish the best for you
And how can we help
Each other grow
 
The world
I am building
Is we respect and celebrate
Each other’s
Differing dreams
 
This is
The world
I want
To live in

This is

The world
I am building

Let The Endings

Sometimes
I look
At my sweet
Old dog
And wonder
When his time
Will come

The same way

I look
At life’s other
Perfect things
Wondering
When they too
Will end

I want

To know
When things end

I want to know

When will
The good things
Be gone

And the thought comes

Live

Let the endings end
When they end

And grant

The same courtesy
To beginnings

Cry when it’s called for

Laugh when it’s time
 
Let life come

And live

Life Is

Life is
So hard

Life is
So good

It is both

At different times
 
At the same time

For all of us

Always

Meaningful Discussions

There are those
So wedded
To long held
Beliefs
 
That they minimize
Any discussion
Which might cause them
To rethink
Their certainties

So when they talk

I just smile
And nod
To keep the peace

And save meaningful discussions

For those willing
To have them

Let Those On The Journey

Let those
On the journey
Lead the way

Help if you’d like
By stepping aside
Or coming along
But not
By presuming
To know
How it ends

We don’t know

What even
The next five minutes
Of this journey holds
 
And we certainly
Don’t know
How it ends

Sudden Loss

There is something about
Sudden loss

The devastating realization
That what was
Once safe
Is no longer so

The strike

Of betrayal
When the solid ground
Of your life
Disintegrates
With no warning
No goodbye

Loss changes things

Changes people
Changed me

Its suddenness

A confirmation
That safety in this world
Is our common wish
But not
Our birthright