Goodbye Dante (our dog)

Sometimes you have to push the bully love aside,
out of the way, elbow and shoulder,
so necessity can see through what love fears most,
loss and the damage of absence.

To see what needs to be done
no matter love’s protests,
though they are not unheard

Love and necessity, formidable forces,
will eventually reunite
as confederates in purpose,
but gently and in time

About This Poem

Last Few Words: Doing the right thing for our pets when they need us to make terrible decisions for them is a precarious balancing act between love and pain.

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Intensity: I appreciate moderate constructive criticism

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Region, Country: San Francisco Bay Area - USA, USA

Favorite Poets: Bukowski

This user supports Neopoet so it can be free to all

Comments

dear Michael,

we have had to make that terrible heart-wrenching decision several times. each time we have insisted that we be with them, holding them when that precious spark left them. there is nothing comforting that can be said to take that pain of loss away. at least they went feeling our love. may you remember all the good times and may that memory lift and lighten you heart.

*warm hugs, Cat

Thank you for commenting C!

Thank you for commenting C! It's obvious you understand this kind of pain, and your thoughts are much appreciated.

Best

Thank you Cat. We just didn't

Thank you Cat. We just didn't want him to be afraid.

I too...

have held one of my dogs, while he was on his journey to the promised doggy heaven! I held him close and felt the life go out and I whispered, "Hey boy, let's go get a burger." Sunday was his favorite day; we used to go for a walk along the railroad tracks [where I could let him off the leash], and then to the Burger King, where he was a celebrity. I wrote a poem about him in the days that followed. It was called: Rugby. You can find it if you go to my profile and look for it. This made me tear up and I felt the pain. I don't think there is anything that I would change. ~ Geezer.
.