Kelsey by Susan Taylor

My Greyhound – Kelsey

Tomorrow afternoon the mailman
will arrive with his pleasant smile
and the dog biscuit tucked firmly
under the rubber band holding the mail

Only tomorrow afternoon,
Kelsey won’t be here to receive
his special treat. I sit here tonight
on our last night together,
and watch him and listen
for any cries signaling
the pain I long to soothe

The hope has gone,
he will not get better;
in a matter of days,
the cancer has made it difficult
for him to walk or stand without assistance

Dr Kavorkian goes to prison
to provide to humans
what I am expected to do tomorrow
to this special being
who has faithfully stayed
by my side

I watch him look
at me for answers, so trusting,
so loving

I look at him
with love and gratitude
for the years of unconditional
love and companionship
he has provided me

He has been by my side
through the deaths of my parents,
always willing to lick
away the tears as they fell

With the death
of my husband 5 years ago,
he became the presence
that kept me warm and safe
through those long nights

A year and a half ago,
together we said goodbye
to his mate in a tearful goodbye
as cancer stole her away

Parents,
husband, children, boyfriends,
other pets have come and gone and
it has always been Kelsey
there to lick my wounds,
to make me smile,
always by my side

Now it is his time to
leave, to join the others
in the field in the sky,
to go back to running and
racing with boundless
energy round and round

So my tears now are
not for him,
but for the tremendous loss
I will feel by his absence

Please say a
prayer for his departure,
my courage to do the right
thing for him and my survival
of this loss

Always with,

Mom