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Good Boy

We murdered our dog today.

Or at least that’s how it feels.
We say it’s for the best.
We say he’s suffering.
But, it feels like a pointless death.

He ran into the vets office.
A Good Boy with cancer.
He tripped twice, bumping a wall,
and peed for the last time.

What did he think as he went inside?

Did he trust us to heal him?

Every day is a new day to a dog,
even when they suffer.
They are good. Better than us.
We are not worthy of them.

That Good Boy waited on the table.
He wheezed and sneezed snot.
A lung full of death,
a tumor in his head.
He seemed ok, not so long ago.

The nurses held him,
while Kevorkian stuck him.
Once, Twice, Third time’s
the charm.

That Good Boy relaxed.
He laid down, and was gone.
I felt him leave.
He went through me,
and I died, inside.

That Good Boy’s free,
we tell ourselves.
We will see him again,
on some misty morn.

When we cross over,
through the Veil,
to that distant shore,
where Love and Peace
prevail.

My friend.
That little Good Boy,
wrapped in a blanket
with love, and nothing else,
to say.

I carried him,
and it killed me.
His weight was a
million pounds,
of pure heart.

That little guy died.
A Good Boy, better than me.
I put him in a box,
for a trip,
to his grave.

A pretty field,
where he can run,
and play,
barking like crazy.

Where he can sniff the breeze,
and disappear among the trees.

PetsDogCancerPainSad

◄ Church Nursery

Time Marches On ►

Comments

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Chris Bunton

Wed 17th Nov 2021 04:34

Thank you

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M.C. Newberry

Tue 16th Nov 2021 14:08

The words "put to sleep" offer an understated but true consolation for an act of mercy. An animal is unable to tell
how much it is suffering and it is quite proper that we should
take heed whilst also making certain there is no option other
than relieving the effects of terminal malignancy. Life becomes
a sentence in itself when suffering is its remorseless inescapable companion.

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Stephen Gospage

Tue 16th Nov 2021 08:16

This was almost too much to bear, Chris. A beautiful, sincere poem. I wish you all well.

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Graham Sherwood

Mon 15th Nov 2021 21:25

No-one understands grief more than someone who has held a dog in their arms as it was put to sleep and that final look back into your eyes as the weight changes.
This captures one of the most horrible decisions one ever has to make. Good work Chris!

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Tom

Mon 15th Nov 2021 20:05

Absolutely beautiful and very poignant.

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John Coopey

Mon 15th Nov 2021 19:06

I’m not a dog lover at all, Chris. But this really hits the spot. Powerful and evocative.

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