 A poem inspired by "Dutchess"
"Where Shall Bury My Friend?"
There are various places in which a dog may be buried. I'm
thinking of a Doberman now, whose coat was as black as the night, and who, as
far as I am aware, never entertained a mean or unworthy thought. This Dobie is
buried beneath an apple tree, under 4' of loam soil and during its proper season
the apple tree softly strews petals on the green lawn of her grave.
Beneath an apple tree, peach tree or any other flowering shrub
or tree is an excellent place to bury a good dog. Beneath such trees, such
shrubs, she slept in the drowsy summer sunshine, or lifted her head to challenge
some strange intruder. These are good places in life or death. But, it is a
small matter. For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes she leaps though
your dreams actual as life, eyes sparkling, laughing, begging, it matter not at
all where the dog sleeps. On a hill where the wind is untamed, and trees are
roaring, or beside a stream she knew in puppyhood, or somewhere in the flatness
of a pasture land, where cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to
you and nothing is gained and nothing is lost ---IF memory lives. But there is
one best place to bury a dog.
If you bury her in this spot, she will come to out when you call
--- come to you over the dim frontiers of death, and down the well remembered
path and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel
they shall not growl at her, nor resent her coming for she belongs there.
People who may make fun of you. People can't see the lightest blade of grass
bent by her footfall, who hear no whimper. People who may never really have had
a good dog. Smile at them, for you shall know something that is hidden from them
and which is well worth the knowing.
The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of her
master.
I miss you Dutchess and I know you're still with me!
"Dutchess" was 16 years old when cancer finally took her from my
mortal life but ....
Just this side of heaven is a place called The Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone
here, that pet goes to The Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all
of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of
food and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the
animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who
were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in
our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one thing: they
miss someone very special to them. who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one
suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright eyes are intent; the
eager body quivers. Suddenly they begins to break away from the group, flying over
the green grass, their legs carrying them faster and faster. You have been spotted,
and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous
reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your
hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting
eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross The Rainbow Bridge together. . . . to meet our
maker TOGETHER!
I thank God every day for the special time I've had with my wonderful friends
and my only wish were that we could have parted on the same
timeline.
On 2-21-2002 I lost another valuable friend
("Cotton") who was 18 in that very month. She too has now joined
"Dutchess" and "Crystal" (Whom I lost last January of 2001,
an Old English Mastiff at the age of 9) at the rainbow bridge and I will join
them there to meet our maker together!
Gone but not forgotten
Perfection's Best Chance....a.k.a Chance
Chance was my very first horse
and taught me more than any book could have ever taught me. I miss you
old man! August 6, 2009
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