Small Matters
(enormously)
Small dog
Small death
Dogs grow old and die
Better we outlive the ones
We care for
We are small, too
Not in worth
But then, neither was he
Buddy, Bud, Boo
I don’t know how old he was
He was my neighbor
Now he’s gone
I’m sorry
He was soft
He was funny
I took a nip or two from him
(you know the kind I mean)
I don’t care
I’ve known dogs
I knew this one well enough
To me, it came on fast
What do I know
His mouth, by the way,
Was small
(maybe that’s why I didn’t
worry about the bites)
He could manage the small
Tennis-ball type things
I gave him some
Well, he’s gone from here
Dog-heaven is a destination
In a country song
And where he is for real
I’ll miss him
Not as much as she will
Her dog
His human
It’s a new connection, now
C L Couch
Thank you praying and thinking about Buddy. (Goodness, officious announcing has rendered thoughts and prayers into specious-sounding things, though they’re not when real.) Buddy died, quickly it seems. If there’s power in prayer—and there is—then your prayers helped get him to his next home smoothly and painlessly.
Another pet friend of mine died recently. Like Buddy, this one had a wonderful life, especially as irascible as he was. This was Old Poodle about whom I’ve written with Old Dachshund (who died a while ago). About these dogs, my sister often said “It’s a good thing they’re cute.” I often sat for them and typically found their behaviors more amusing than annoying. But then I could leave.
I’m sorry for Denise who took care of Buddy and my sister’s family who cared for Wiener and Schnitzel (my brother-in-law, the chef, provided the names). And I’m thankful for humans who give good lives to pets.
Photo by Kenny Luo on Unsplash
clcouch123 
May 23, 2020 at 7:21 pm
Aw. I’m sorry for your loss my friend. I’m glad buddy is in a happier place, now that his best years are over.
May 23, 2020 at 11:15 pm
Thank you! Apparently, he was suffering terribly. So that’s over, and he’s where he should be now.
May 23, 2020 at 11:53 pm
I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore; that’s never easy to see especially since you knew him so well from dog sitting. Take care
May 23, 2020 at 7:26 pm
I’m sorry for your friend. It’s hard to lose a dog, or a cat come to that. A friend of mine who worked (unpaid of course) for a dog charity, rehoming hunting dogs from Spain who have an appalling end when they’re considered of no use,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galgo_Espa%C3%B1ol
ended up with six dogs nobody wanted, three-legged, chronically sick, traumatised, crippled with bullet wounds and broken bones, and they all died in the space of six months. She can’t bear not having animals around her but thinks she’s too old to take on any more, and especially can’t bear losing any more. She was the one who drove Finbar 800 miles from Seville. I don’t know what we’ll do when he dies. He’s thirteen this summer and slowing down. Our sixth child…
May 23, 2020 at 11:21 pm
My goodness, such a service your friend provided! I do not understand and cannot condone the horrible things people do to animals.
Yes, my friend’s a wreck. It all happened so fast. Not that gradually would have mattered in terms of meaning.
I had a cat, a foundling. I think we had a good time together. She lived nineteen years. I miss her every day.
Thanks for all your consideration. I hope Finbar continues enjoying life with you and yours for a long while.
May 24, 2020 at 7:13 pm
She had (still has) a lot of other things that she’s involved in, but rescuing Galgos from their Spanish hell was her passion. She says at her age (over 70) it would be selfish to take on any more. They are difficult dogs to cope with.
May 26, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Oh, I am sorry for your lost, brother. Indeed prayers work. He is in heaven, surely. 🙂
May 27, 2020 at 8:50 pm
Thanks so much for your affirmation, sister!
June 1, 2020 at 8:49 am
bless you, brother!
May 28, 2020 at 1:52 pm
The poem was emotional, and the last few lines reminded me of my neighborhood dog, and how lovely seeing his face, how his little gestures brought a smile to me irrespective of how the situation was, love to the fur babies, and I hope that they are in a better place..
May 28, 2020 at 7:08 pm
Dogs are wonderful for how unconditional they can be in their affections toward us. Cats are trickier, but I think many of them like us as well. I’m with you in hoping for the better place. I think their innocence deserves it, dogs’ and (even) cats’.