Epitaph

I lost one of my best friends.

Maybe I wouldn't have loved at all

if I'd known how it hurt to watch you leave.

I wish I still pined to have you,

rather than letting you, doors wide open

into my heart.

You left something in there,

deep as a canyon, wide as an ocean, dark as a cave.

The shape of you,

your face, your eyes,

the way you said hello.

The human in me tries to fill it with new faces, new voices,

stuffing it full to overflow,

but like balloons they wither and fall.

The hole is still there like the throbbing memory of you.

When you said, "let me go," 

I didn't know what it would feel to never touch you again,

to never be greeted by you again, to never adventure again, just us two.

I can't say goodbye,

or maybe I just won't.

But either way, there's paw prints on my soul

and a thump, thump, wagging tail in my heart.

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

I lost my little girl pit bull this summer- the one you read about in my piece. If we are lucky, we get that one special dog that’s unlike any other, and losing them is a visceral pain that never leaves you. You’ve captured your love for your pup here so well. I’m sorry for your loss xx

[49k_jdys]

Thank you so much for your kind words! Sorry for your loss as well.

[Delmar Cooper]

I hear the saddest thing in the world is when a parent outlives the child. I believe it is so and it makes me wonder at the lives of men and dogs that we live. I have had many dog friends over my life and outlived them all. The last one was the last. I did not vow not to repeat the loss process but I have. No new dog has been in my life. I think my last love was my last loss.

I have come back to add something: a suggestion. If you have never read the story of Old Drum or the George Graham Vest "Eulogy of a Dog" I recommend you do so. Delivered as a summation in a lawsuit, the eulogy is empathetic writing and persuasive speech making. The Old Drum eulogy is one of my favorite speeches. My all time favorite is a masterpiece of humorous hypocrisy "The Whiskey Speech" by Noah S. Sweat in 1952. You never know what will cause your next outbreak of creativity, but reading is a proven cause. Live the life of the omnivore!

[KCthelastboyscout]

Man and woman's best friend.you feel their loss just as much as any human being who touches your heart

[49k_jdys]

Yes! Thank you!

[Neville]

What an emotionally charged write we have here & one with a surprise at the tail end too...Not everyone will understand the intensity of such a loss, but many of us do.......Neville

[49k_jdys]

Thank you so much for reading!

[Neville]

My pleasure entirely.....N

[R.E. Ray]

A sad but sincere, heartfelt poem. I like you how wait to the end for the revelation ("paw prints" and "wagging tail"). I'm sure many readers (including me) assumed until the end you were talking about a human friend. "Man's best friend" comes rushing to my mind at the end. A beautiful tribute to your lost friend!

[49k_jdys]

Thanks so much for reading!

[SJ Roebling]

Wow. I can feel your every word. Incredible descriptions that conjure up memories. Very nice work.

[49k_jdys]

Thank you so much for reading!

[Einstein Noodle]

"deep as a canyon, wide as an ocean, dark as a cave."
really says it all to me ... one can't go through life for very long without wrestling with some kind of loss ... i feel every bit of this :( sorry for your loosing your friend ... grown men cry helplessly when their good dog dies :(((( :( peace
E.

[49k_jdys]

Thank you very much!

[Karen Redburn]

Anytime my friend!

[Rye]

I enjoyed this write, enjoyed the ending as well.
I can feel the emotions in this, nicely expressed

[49k_jdys]

Thank you very much!

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

I have no words to express the heartbreak of reading these words. Beautifully and touchingly written tribute to a pet who has passed on. “ I can’t say goodbye, or maybe I just won’t.”- The pain and suffering expressed here just resonates with me. Personal, honest, moving poem. I tecognize the truth in this and I am so sorry for your loss. Please remember, they all are healed and wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge...hugs and blessings wished to you.:)

[49k_jdys]

Thank you so much for your sweet words Annette!

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Xo.........:):)

[Karen Redburn]

Good use of imagery to describe those dark empty feelings. Now I do have a question, is this about a person, or a puppy, I'm definitely feeling puppy judging by the end, but I am not too smart when it comes to poetry. Either way, it is a sad write and breaks my heart, but think it will break my heart more if I discover it is a dog. Excellent poem, my friend! Never mind just saw the tag lines, so sorry for the loss of your puppy (((Hugs)))

[49k_jdys]

Thank you so so much!