Goodbye old friend

Short stubby legs

An ankle biter

Nipping at your heals

Exited bouncing

A noisy welcome

Happiness she feels

Pulling all the way

Walking on the lead

Heckles up for greetings

Always picking fights

With bigger dogs

Hopeless at new meetings

 

Reach to pet her

Hand outstretched

She covers you with slobber

Proudly protects

She listens carefully

She can’t miss a robber

Woodland Burial

Don’t lay me in some gloomy churchyard shaded by a wall

Where the dust of ancient bones has spread a dryness over all,

Lay me in some leafy loam where, sheltered from the cold

Little seeds investigate and tender leaves unfold.

There kindly and affectionately, plant a native tree

To grow resplendent before God and hold some part of me.

The roots will not disturb me as they wend their peaceful way

To build the fine and bountiful, from closure and decay.

To seek their small requirements so that when their work is done

I’ll be tall and standing strongly in the beauty of the sun.

 

(Pam Ayres)

My eyes are getting heavy now

My eyes are getting heavy now; my time has come to leave,

But one thing I must tell you as you stay behind to grieve …

You always did your best for me, your love it knew no end,

I really was a lucky dog to have you as my friend.

I see how much you miss me now,

Your days seem bleak and bare,

I know you well, your heart is big,

You still have love to share.

So please don’t sit and cry for me,

We’ll meet around the bend,

Til then another lucky dog

Is waiting for a friend.

 

(Author unknown)