28 Comments

Incessant bliss.

I would like a shot of that every so often

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I'd offer a round on me if I could!

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I'll join you Chuck!

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Well this is a sad one, but it got me thinking about tender last moments with animals -- both my own babies and some others that I loved.

.

They try to lead her outside

by the collar but she is

so skinny it slips off.

She stands still and waits

for them to put it back on.

.

I carry him into a kitchen

he has never entered

and feed him bites of steak.

.

They push little squares

of cheese into her mouth

until one falls out.

.

We count down her minutes

together on the tile floor,

each a deeper thud

than the last, but she is

dozing and does not notice.

.

I am tugging at the seconds even,

kneading them out,

stretching them into

a shared blanket.

I am drawing a circle around

goodbye.

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Your poem pulled me into so many tender and heartbreaking moments. It's beautiful. And that ending - "I am drawing a circle around / goodbye." 💔

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Oh Rebekah, this is so tender and beautiful. The 1st line "I am drawing a circle around goodbye" frames the end of the poem so well. You brought me to those times we had to euthanize our pets, the terrible knowledge thar while it compassionate and caring, the very act rips our hearts open.

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Jeff the Golden doodle? We have one called Boomer. He is almost nine and still quite a mover. We had one before him called McDuff who was 110 pounds and a great deal of love. I wrote this about him. I know it's a lousy poem but what are you going to do. Thanks Lisa.

The Sweet Baboo

There was once a dog

who knew everything about love.

From his dazzling puppy entrance

to his foot dancing exit,

he spread his joy

on every single creature.

To meet him

was a great moment

in anyone’s life.

To share his life

was a rare and brief treasure.

His heart was as

large as he was,

the gentlest of giants,

the kindest of curs.

His rare bark

was a clap of thunder and

something was always afoot.

He lazily chased

chipmunks among the roots

and now they dash

over all the stones

we laid in love.

He rests there now,

under the citadel tree,

a great Ponderosa Pine.

a big, long sleep-

giving those roots

the same love

he gave the world

every single day.

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"To meet him / was a great moment / in anyone’s life." I believe it! Both McDuff and Boomer sound like wonderful beings. And yes, Jeff is a golden doodle, too!

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He looks mighty spry as well. I'd guess he's 50 pounds or so and how old is he?

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45 pound and 2.5 years old!

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I love this Weston! Your wonderful description of Boomer and McDuff resonates with me, and I know I have met countless boomer and McDuff kindreds!

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Thanks Larry. Once you're a dog lover, it's easy to love every dog. Every time I met one, we're like old pals.

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I echo that 100% Weston!

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Not my finest work, but I so loved remembering our giant St. Bernard Chunko, who guided me through childhood into college.

Chunko

^

Gentle giant who dearly wanted

to be a lap dog;

Gladiator tongue so you would know

you were truly loved.

^

This kind hearted beast bred

for rescue in the mountains,

found her home along this Atlantic beach

with no mountains in sight.

^

Bark that could shake the earth,

bounding, bouncy, ballistic bundle

exploding into our lives,

magical wonder dog with playful heart.

^

Calf size canine afraid

of thunder and fireworks

our screen porch full of holes

you had burst through.

^

Coming home that first year from college,

Excited to give you a hug and

Experience that legendary lick,

You were nowhere to be found,

^

Then the news:

Chunko fell down the stairs;

“We” had to put her down.

The first time I heard that fateful phrase.

^

Many years and dogs later

I wake up some mornings

yearning for one more sloppy dog kiss;

One more walk along this lonely ocean beach.

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You made me love Chunko the giant lap dog so much that the second to last stanza hit me with a jolt, like I was there hearing the news, too. I hope there are enormous laps and no fireworks in dog heaven!

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I hope so too! I still remember coming home one weekend from college, and casually being told she ahd fallen down the stairs, they rtook her to the vet, and there was nothing they could do. I always wondered why they didn't call and tell me, but parents and adult chidlren sometimes miss cionenctions. I have had some wonderful dogs since Chunko, but none quite the same.

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So sweet (your Jeff). This made me laugh: "If this animal is still present in your life, spend some time with them. Look into their eyes (assuming they aren’t, say, a blind cavefish)."

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I literally googled "animals without eyes" for that one.

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How wonderful! I can attest to the untethered joy that Jeff brings to everyone he interacts with.

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Even when he's stealing the chicken (or was it a roast?) off your counter? 😂

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What a gem of a poem and photo of Jeff running!!

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Thank you so much, Angela! My photo roll seems to have swung from kid obsession to dog obsession over the last couple years.

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oh my word, Lisa! That picture of Jeff running through the field is amazing! He has SO much joy on his adorable, furry face. Love it. Thanks for sharing. XO

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Thank you and you're welcome! Maybe every poem needs to come with a pet picture attached!

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LIsa, what a fun poem and prompt! I would like to be Jeff in the next life!

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You and me both!

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How much I loved her

She understood me

It didn’t last

I didn’t understand

Her

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