My Dear Departed Dog – a Haibun
We friends step out of the café and part ways, I gaze at the familiar bustling street scene
In front of me. It feels empty and I’m hit again — you are not there, but gone for ever.
Lately, I’ve been wired by the need to check the time – how long have I left you?
Alone so frail, so diminished, so dependent.
I find the corners of my heart are empty without you – I never knew until now
how fully you resided there. I give away your unused food, uneaten when you gave up eating.
I foolishly comfort myself : you’ll be back soon, oh no you won’t, ever.
I cherish your face steadily looking back at me on my phone.
Like that I can keep you close.
HAIKU
Your gift of love feeds
My soul. You are released
My loss is the toll
January 10, 2019 at 5:08 pm
I’m with you in/on/about every word. Our Henry (golden) has been gone for over four years, but I still see him in the corners of the room, hear his sighs as he snores in the middle of the night, feel him leaning against me as I write. He’s still there, as is your Max. I know…
August 11, 2017 at 8:55 am
So sorry to hear of your loss which is so well described. It will take a period of time to adjust and memories will live on…
August 11, 2017 at 3:56 pm
Thank you for your thoughtful response – I did find writing about it helped in some way- not sure why. Hope you’re still being creative with drawing.
August 10, 2017 at 8:36 am
I love the Haiku, I can feel the sadness in it. I hope you will be strong. Missing a cuddly companion really gives us a playback to the ‘ melancholic’ memories that we had together with them. This reminds me of my bunny.
August 7, 2017 at 2:53 pm
I was moved by this post and then by the *Letter to my old dog Max …* post (when I followed a “RELATED” link). I noticed that the earlier post dates back to 2015, roughly equivalent to 14 years ago for aging people. Your love and care sustained Max for a long time, living as happily as possible. Your did right by him. I hope the memory of that fact consoles you (as a similar memory consoled me after my own experience with an aging spouse). Be proud.
August 8, 2017 at 9:09 am
Thank you – I moved by your response and empathy. You are right – hadn’t thought of how Max was sustained by my love and care. That will sustain me. You speak as someone who understands.
August 7, 2017 at 1:12 pm
So beautiful and very moving love Jeannie XXX
August 7, 2017 at 1:27 pm
Thank you Jeannie, kind of you.
August 6, 2017 at 11:42 pm
Heartfelt sympathies. Your poems for Max made me cry. Take care of yourself – this is hard. XOXOX
August 7, 2017 at 8:12 am
Thank you for your kind comment and understanding.
August 6, 2017 at 8:05 pm
So sorry to hear your sad news. I have such
wonderful memories of Max as a good supervision sofa companion. What a beautiful, friendly boy – a real character.
Thinking of you.
August 7, 2017 at 8:13 am
Thank you dear Glynis – makes me happy that you knew and loved Max.
August 6, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Aww, I’m so sorry to hear this. People without pets don’t realise just how much they become part of ourselves. Such a beautiful dog too 🙁
August 7, 2017 at 8:15 am
Thank you for your kind words. Think you’re right about people without pets – for them hard to imagine how much a pet becomes part of you.