One overcast day

In the late Spring this May

As we sat observing some birds,

My doggo turned round

to look at me there

And seemingly spoke without words:

I fear I must soon leave

Though it makes my heart grieve

But my time here is nearing its end.

And I must soon depart

for the rainbow bridge

Or whatever lies just round the bend.

They say that above,

There's a haven of love

And the kindest of places to be,

A heavenly harbor for dogs of all kinds

Just filled with puppies and friends,

And tree after tree after tree!

But before I depart

For that place that’s all heart

There’s so much I wanted to say

That I’ll miss you so greatly,

Having you by my side,

And all of our walks ‘long the way.

I’ll miss all the scents

That wise nature ferments

And the cozy warm place by your fire,

Being able to squirt,

To chase a few squirrels

And snarl at the postman’s ire!

And oh, so very much more!

Like that special spot on your floor,

But I say nonetheless

That on my very last day,

It’s the caress of your hand

With which I’ve most been blessed!

Dad, my day’s almost here,

I can sense it’s quite near,

So, listen close now to what I declare

You may not know that,

We dogs have a pact

And have held to it for thousands of years.

From time beyond reckoning

Even before human beckoning

Since we left our natural habitat,

To come sniff the smells

To dispose of your leftovers

And rid you of those nasty brown rats!

We’ve vowed to love you

And serve and protect you,

And depend on your kind loving grace.

Forever hence forward we gave it all up

To be close by your side

And seek out your loving embrace!

Whatever you may think,

We’re far better than drink

To dispel all your sorrows and glooms,

And although it may seem trifling,

Or looked on as wages and pay,

It’s never been what you’ve presumed!

But come good or bad days,

Come disappointments or dismays,

Our love for you always lighted our way!

With that, he stopped short as if gazing

Far off and his ears dipped somewhat,

As one might when one sits still to pray.

After that he fell silent but I imagined why

He’d paused in his thoughts and his sighs,

In the corner of his eye was a big doggy tear.

Then he turned a furred ear as if listening

To a voice from elsewhere or something beyond,

Perhaps praise that just he could hear.

We’d sat lingering there then,

Just me and my Husky chien

Till all was sheer silence and black,

And then we went home, he no more to roam

Through our neighborhood park that he loved.

He’s finally, I feel, rejoined his pack…

That he silently left me with a hole in my heart

And departed to that great place apart

I reconcile sadly, but know he’s at peace

In that magical land beyond Rainbow Bridge,

With friends that he chases and plays with all day

And his boundless joy knows no surcease.

Thus, the puzzle I’m left, about which I’m possessed:

Which of us was truly more blessed?

The dog, or us humans left down below,

With all of our miseries and our grief?

I leave it now to others to figure it all out

But I suspect that we already know…  

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NOTE: 1 Jun 2022

The below is a separate 'take' on the above pome (sic) by a fellow poet of the Sacramento Bad Poets' Society (a reel swell feller and hugely eddicated, as well!). Make of it what you shall, complete with all its pimples, blemishes, granfaloons and false aspirations! Be kind...he means well...

REX'S FAREWELL

Recently, on a Spring day,
My revered husky, Rex,
Turned from me to the wind
And seriously said:

 "I've loved being with you,
These walks in Land Park,
The squirrels and leafy trees
And the cool delta breeze.

 "But I'm getting old
And while I still can
 I must leave you behind
In Sacramento, this crazy, busy

"City and state which
Will remain your home.
 I'm leaving now, you see
In this wind I hear

"The call of the wild--
It's telling me: 'Head north,
Go to Alaska, climb Denali,
And claim all that you can see!'

"I'm sorry, old friend,
But you needn't worry about me
[Takes off running...howls back--]
"Look at it this way, you'll never again say:
'Shit, Rex! Stop it! Don't eat that!'"