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