This week was a sad one for my friend, poet-author Laura Shovan. Her beagle Rudy had a condition known as bloat. Bloat is a serious condition that few dogs survive. To learn more, please click this link to AKC information on bloat. If you own a dog, you need to know the warning signs.
Rudy fought but lost the fight. Laura posted multiple pictures of her beloved pet on social media. I was especially taken with this photo. A dreamy quality that reminds me that our pets know more than we think they know.
Leave a poem in the comments. I hope our poems will comfort Laura in some small way. Leave encouraging comments for other writers.
If we could see through
Margaret Simon, 2020
the eyes of a dog,
we’d know the secret
to unconditional love.
Oh, my goodness. I saw this pic too and immediately found my pup to pet and give some love. Our dogs do so much watching and waiting on us. Losing a pet is awful. My sister in law had to say goodbye to her 16 year old dog last night. So sad. You are absolutely right…unconditional love they give us.
Every day
with you is love
and safe harbor
fun
and funny
every daywith you
is a
best day ever
“Every day is a best day ever” That is how we feel about our pets. They become such an integral part of our lives.
Linda, I especially love “safe harbor” and “best day ever!”
Thanks for this poem, Linda. Funny is the right word for our boy.
Margaret, many thanks for the opportunity to send our collective poetic condolences to Laura. And thanks for the info on bloat. I’d never heard of it. RIP sweet pup, Rudy.
the fur and warmth
by my side
reminds me to be
as wonderful
as he believes I am
Bridget Magee 2020
“As he believes I am!” Reminds me of a bumper sticker I have that reads “Lord, help me be the person my dog thinks I am.”
Bridget, your lines “to be as wonderful as he believes I am,” move me!
Thank you, Bridget. I’m so grateful for the unconditional love of dogs.
Golden Retrievals
By Mark Doty
Fetch? Balls and sticks capture my attention
seconds at a time. Catch? I don’t think so.
Bunny, tumbling leaf, a squirrel who’s—oh
joy—actually scared. Sniff the wind, then
I’m off again: muck, pond, ditch, residue
of any thrillingly dead thing. And you?
Either you’re sunk in the past, half our walk,
thinking of what you never can bring back,
or else you’re off in some fog concerning
—tomorrow, is that what you call it? My work:
to unsnare time’s warp (and woof!), retrieving,
my haze-headed friend, you. This shining bark,
a Zen master’s bronzy gong, calls you here,
entirely, now: bow-wow, bow-wow, bow-wow.
Thanks for sharing this poem.
Thank you, Pat. I remember hearing Doty read this poem at the Dodge festival and the story of getting a big, lovable dog for his dying partner.
I’ve never heard of this problem. So sad to hear this happening to a kind gentle creature.
Thank you, Janice. It’s more common in larger breeds. We’d never heard of it either.
Faithful Companion
by Kathleen Mazurowski
Look ahead, not behind.
We’ve had adventures
Remember the good times
Always, Rudy
It’s so hard to lose a furry family member, especially when they fought so hard.
I love the hopefulness of this “letter” from Rudy.
Yes, remembering the good times. Love the letter from Rudy.
Thank you, Kathleen. This is lovely.
While I never owned a dog, my cat was a special friend when I was under 5. Unfortunately, Frankie Boy, jumped out of my arms and was hit by a car in front of me. I never forgot that.
within many homes
pets feel warmth of owner’s love
memories remain
Carol, how tragic! My daughter had a similar experience. I’ll never forget that phone call. Our pets do warm our hearts and homes.
Thanks for helping me bring back that memory, Margaret.
Carol, I am sorry you observed such a horrific accident at such a young age. I love your line “memories remain” because it’s so true.
Memories do remain, Gail. Sometimes, they are hidden though.
Oh, Carol. What a sad memory! Thank you for sharing your poem.
I am touched by your love for Rudy.
How true Carol, those memories are always there and always cherished!
Rudy and Laura, Skygazers
I lift my snout,
taste wind and sky.
You scratch my ears.
I lean. You sigh.
Buffy, you are a master at capturing such a simple moment and making us sigh, Ah, yes!
Buffy, using the point of view of Rudy make your words precious.
Thanks, Buffy. I love the title of this poem.
Buffy, Skygazers is a wonderful title for your poem.
Wonderful image you painted of Laura and Rudy Buffy, such a sense of trust and calm!
Margaret, I’m so sorry to hear of Laura’s dog passing. I can relate because I have lost many beloved cats over the years and a neighbor’s lab, who was my girlfriend. I love the idea of seeing through a dog’s eyes to “the secret to unconditional love.’ Beautiful!
Our Beloved Dogs and Cats Are…
sunshine,
security
blankets,
warm licks,
playmates,
family,
glowing eyes
of love.
Gail Aldous
[…] Many thanks to Poetry Friday Margaret Simon, who posted a photo of me and Rudy in her “This Photo wants to Be a Poem” series. You’ll find that at Margaret’s blog, Reflections on the Teche. […]
These poems are such tributes to our special friends. Many of us have that collective experience of losing them. This is mine.
Bella
As I watch her
resting on my lap
nearing her last day
I wonder
Does she know it is coming?
Is she fearful like me?
Will she look up
and smile
of the happy life we shared?
Will she know that
she will live in my heart forever?
I am not ready for the answers.
“I am not ready for the answers” — exactly. Thank you.
Margaret, for some reason my comments to you and my poem didn’t appear on your blog, though my comments to others about their poems did appear. So I’m reposting. I love your idea of being able to see through a dog’s eyes to know the secret of unconditional love! I am sad for Laura’s loss of her beloved pet, Rudy. We’ve lost many cats over the years so I can relate. Thank you for suggesting we write a poem to comfort Laura.
Our Beloved Dogs and Cats Are…
sunshine,
security blankets,
warm licks,
play mates,
family
glowing eyes
of love
Thanks for patiently reposting. What a lovely list of things. I get warm locks form both my dog and my cat.
Thank you, Margaret. Our oldest cat, Lovee, who is seventeen-years-old likes to wrap around my neck like a scarf and lick my chin.
Gail, your list of why people love their pests are so sweet. I especially liked security blankets.
Carol, thank you. I was thinking of warmth and comfort. Then, blanket popped into my head, then security blanket.
Thank you, Gail. That helps.
Laura, thank you. I’m glad it helps. I recently bought your book, The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary to use for a mentor text for my writing. I had previously read your book and couldn’t put it down.
Beautiful poem Margaret, succinct and true! Thanks for sharing this tribute for Laura’s dog Rudy, and for inviting us to write. Pets hold a very special place within us.
Love lies in these
two pair of eyes
and will
last
forever…
Thank you, Michelle. He was only with us for five years, but Rudy made them memorable!
Michelle, ooh, I love your lines “love lies in these two pair of eyes!” It’s amazing how dogs and cats eyes are so expressive of love and other emotions.