by Barbara E. Magera
You’re no longer here
My heart is full of fear
That I won’t see you anymore
No more hugs
No more cuddles
No more kisses
My heart struggles
To make sense of it all
When the ambulance came
Your cardiac illness was to blame
For taking you away
I prayed to God you’d be okay
But then I never saw you again
Every day I wait for your return
“Will I see you?” my heart yearns
I want you home to our happy life
Free of worry and illness strife
Family whispers that you died
All around me people cried
But no one thought of me
Just how shattered my life might be
No one thinks dogs have feelings
Despite our sense of canine grieving
We remember all the mundane
Precious memories to hearts sustain
The sudden loss of my best friend
I hold memories of your love
When I imagine you above
In heaven with family gathered
As my heart is completely shattered
I am grateful for your patience
To understand your expectations
For each of my training sessions
To help those who live with blindness
With honors I graduated from the foundation
Of the Guide Dog organization
Giving independence to the blind
To live safely and unconfined
Without the sense of human eyesight
My talents and abilities were their highlights
To a more meaningful and full life
Because of your meticulous training
Which you thought was entertaining
We provided a needed service
To help blind humans was our purpose
Now I understand why we bonded
For this mission we responded
With deep gratitude I give to you
And thank God for all you do
Amen
From your best buddy, Xylo
Photograph of Myron Klewicki
Barbara E. Magera MD, PharmD, MMM (Caracaleeb) is a Cavalier fancier, exhibitor and breeder, dog photographer and writer who lives and practices medicine in Charleston, SC.
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