What did you do for your little black dog?
You gave her a home and a name
What did she do for her family?
She made you the centre of all.
You anchored her world, she sweetened yours
Your lives ran well together
It's a sad hard truth that the life of a dog
Is so much shorter than ours.
But then -
To her you were always there.
Sunrise, noontime and into the dark.
It was all she wanted and what she had
And her happiness in your hands.
So what did you do for your little black dog?
You gave her a place and a name to herself.
And what did she do for her family?
She gave herself back to you.
And what can you do for your little black dog?
Now she's left your side?
You can hold her dear in your memory
Forever warm in your mind.
And what can she do for her family,
Now her time is ended?
She can linger on in the paths of dreams
Until your grief is mended.
You are the sad ones left behind,
She was the lucky one
For you were there for her whole life through
You were the light of her sun.
Lifelong love
So rarely occurs
But that's what you did
For her.

This was written for a friend in mourning for a beloved pet.