Some Healing To Do

I still cry
When I recall
How sweet life was
With you

I’ve still got

Some healing
To do

And I know now

From experience
That such things
Take time

I know now

That healing
Will come
When it will

Will sneak up on me

As I’m watching
The flowers bloom
The seasons change
The children grow

Still forever

I’ll carry you
Close in my heart

Forever

I’ll be in awe
Of the joy
That you brought
 
Forever I will let
The tears fall
When they will
 
There just isn’t
Any other
Way through
 
I’m still learning
How to live
Without a piece
Of my heart

I’ve still got

Some healing
To do

The Things That Time Built

I miss
The things
That time built

The comfort

That comes only
From living
Years of life
Together

The shared experiences

The learned rhythm

Of play and rest

The we

Are certainly
A family

I miss the things

That time built

Precious things

Not quickly built

And because of that
So deeply cherished
So terribly missed
 

For Noble, 7/8/2004 – 7/25/2016

You

You are not hurting
You are not afraid
You are not sick

You are not worried

You are not lonely
You are not confused

You are not angry

You are not unsettled
You are not uncomfortable

You are not feeling abandoned

You are not any of these things

I am these things

You are at perfect peace

Bathed in love
Content with rich memories of a blessed life

And because you are these things

I will do my best
To be them too

 
For Noble, 7/8/2004 – 7/25/2016

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