of the bird bath.
Spring had revenge upon the ice.
In summer I watched my sweet dog
step up and hide her head
against my stomach, for love.
Winter cared nothing for her.
She is gone.
Illness broke the bowl
of my body.
Today's better, though.
I tell the empty room.
_____
a flash 55 about extremes for Kerry at Real Toads.
This is so sad, on that level of sadness that no words can alleviate.
ReplyDeleteWinter takes too much, sometimes. At least it hasn't taken your words, though that is small consolation when the empty room stares back at you. Fine writing, Shay.
ReplyDeleteit's hard when we outlive our loved animals. even at 65, I know I will outlive this little dog that has come into my life.
ReplyDeleteSo sad, but as all say, wonderful writing. k.
ReplyDeleteEach day leads to something better, even with sad memories. Warm greetings.
ReplyDeleteI'm crying with you
ReplyDeleteThe sadness when there is nothing but that empty room... wonderful and sad writing.
ReplyDeleteThe image of her resting her head in your stomach "for love", and now being gone. And the courage of "today is better", told to an empty room. I wish I could arrive at your door with flowers, chocolate and tea. And maybe a basket full of puppies, just for a visit, to cheer you.
ReplyDeleteoh! the body as a bowl carries so much, doesn't it? this is achingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDamn winter. Damn the empty room. I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteOh, this evoked such a strong emotional response for me. That dear little dog, the emptiness of such loss. This is EXTREMEly powerful, Shay. Thank you for sharing the winter pain.
ReplyDeleteDamn the chill of broken!!
ReplyDeleteBleak indeed – and written so well that we all feel it with you. Beautiful use of restraint.
ReplyDeleteah. another cyber artist friend's dog passed recently, and the palpable love and loss you each describe make me tear up.
ReplyDeletedamn winter. ~
So very sad and filled with loss. Powerful!
ReplyDelete"Spring had revenge upon the ice."
ReplyDeleteThat was flipping brilliant.
oh my gosh shay, this truly touches me because we lost our boy a couple of months ago. what really hits me poignantly about this lovely touching piece is that my wife had stated that our boy 'Jules' may not survive the winter either physically or spiritually. when started he struggled with his inability to see, to hear, would defecate and urinate on himself and when i would take him outside in the snow his nose would drag through it trying to use what little sense of smell he had left. we made the sad decision that he had had enough. i held him on my chest, whispering to him how much we loved him as he was injected. gracias for sharing your heart in this piece
ReplyDeleteThis has a sparseness, a bareness that is just devastating.
ReplyDeleteVery sad and despite the spring thaw, leaves me cold. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThat ending makes my heart drop. Oh, Shay...
ReplyDeleteA sad, lonely, and wintry poem of loss.
ReplyDeletePat
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