BUDDY

Loss, mourn, passage

She slumps over him

best friend, a furry lad

strokes his rough brown hair

labored breaths

his eyes half locked

wee droplets seep out

her forlorn face

head elevates

to catch a glimpse

of his wet nostrils

she awaits, not a stir

blank stare

her eyes plead to blink

"It's time"

she quivers

needle plunges deep

"He's gone"

she implores to stay

he rests peacefully

asleep as the motionless stars

his only caregiver

in silent tortuous mourning

Reviews

[barleygirl]

From an emotion-based reading, your poem grabs the heart & never lets go. My problem was one of logistics. At the end of P1: "blank stare" . . . after that: "needle plunges" . . . and "he's gone" . . . just seems a little confusing. I thought the pet was dead at the end of P1 & then comes the needle. Just being picky. Maybe it's in the way things feel scrambled as we go thru this agonizing decision to put a pet down. It's hard to know convincingly whether the pet is better off dead or alive! It's excruciating long before the scene with the needle. I've had many pets over the years & it usually takes about a year of nursing a pet to the rainbow bridge. I'm already dreading that with my oldest pet now! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Lea Sheryn]

Heartrenderingly sad. To lose a pet is devestatingly hard.

[alanwgraham]

I can feel the deep emotion and sense of loss expressed well in your poem Betty. It must be difficult acquiring a pet to know that you are likely to go through this trauma.I know that many will connect with you.
All the best.
Alan