Your little white head pops up
Eyes almost hidden behind
shaggy fur
Watching, being, wondering.
…
You wiggle your entire body in
ecstasy when we re-enter
even if it has only been mere
moments, our presence to you is
pure joy.
…
Eleven years of companionship
Nestling your warm body into my lap
Eyeing the tightly wrapped bundles
with suspicion and excitement
Sniffing to wonder at the mystery of
life.
…
Your loyalty knows no bounds
Ever-forgiving, ever-loving
Never snapping at sticky, prodding
fingers.
You are patient, resilient, kind.
…
Your entire life has been spent in our shadows.
How much of that have I taken for granted?
May it not be in your own shadow that
I finally learn to marvel at you.
This post is part of a link up with an amazing community of writers at Five Minute Friday. We free write for five minutes each Friday on a prompt. This week’s prompt is ‘loyal’. Join us!
12 comments
Love this, Emma. You’ve captured the dynamic of the canine-human relationship perfectly.
It’s 0130 here, and I just finished feeding Barbara’s 18-year-old three-legged Rottie her dinner. She wasn’t hungry when everyone else ate; she was ravenous now.
And it is a distinct pleasure.
#2 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/08/your-dying-spouse-199-phoenix-rising-fmf.html
Such a wonderful picture – the devotion and care that it takes to look after our canine friends and the reward that is inherent in the relationship 🙂
I love Gus!
haha I love that he is completely oblivious to all this!
Ohhh, he’s a darling! Your poetry, as always, is beautiful!
I also wrote about our dog, Bella. It’s amazing how the one word, “Loyal,” can invoke such similar inspiration in anyone who has ever owned a dog. Have a great week!
Shauna (your neighbour at #14)
I did wonder how many of the pieces on loyalty would gravitate towards our dogs – I tried different angles in my mind but to no avail! Looking forward to reading your piece xx
Pets loyalty to us really do not know bounds, do they? What a fun post. Your dog looks so sweet. Did you know today is national dog day? I’m over in the 35 spot this week.
How random is that!? What a coincidence 🙂
Emma,
may I wish Gus a Happy “National Dog Day” from the U.S.?? Personally, my childhood dog is up on a pedestal and no substitute has been found since my parents had to lay him down in 1999.
I love your closing lines. We can apply those to many others in addition to our darling pets. Not only in their shadow and absence, but today. Thank you. Thank you for your loyalty, your friendship, your consistency.
So glad to read your poetry this week!!
Love,
Tammy
(#7 this week)
That is so true, Tammy. That moment when you discover someone you love is no more, or is seriously ill brings such clarity and perspective about all the things that matter. Sounds like your dog was a very formative relationship in your life, I hope you find similar heights of beauty one day xx
Oh, sweet puppy! Gus has stolen my heart. And your poem. Love those last lines. Those pups become our children too.
They do, don’t they! I’m smiling at him right now and he is just looking at me completely perplexed, one ear pricked up as he splays out on the couch… dogs are pretty cool 🙂 Missed hanging out online with you again this week – going to read your post now!