Astro, Memoriam

Memoriam poem to Astro

 

Astro, Memoriam

 

You were your own dog,

Tracking a scent

Till satisfied

Even when a friend approached -

And you had many

People and dogs

Who loved you

 

Your life was

Making friends

Licking a face

Tracking and marking

Walking far as you could

Even when breaths

Grew precious.

 

As you reached sixteen

You kept on

Coughing, aching

Struggling for breath

Then recover

Grow strong enough to walk.

 

You seemed set

To walk forever

Awaiting

Permission to stop

Kissing our hands

Until your breath was gone.

 

We dug your grave

Deep beneath

The crabapple tree

Tears marking your spot

Where we lay you down to rest

Beneath a leafy canopy.

 

July 2014

David P Eckert