Grief

Grief so strong since Pup died
all the tears I long held in
for all the many losses in my life
are being cried along with tears for him.

that big black dog is trying to heal me, even now.

he opened the heart I had held closed,
to guard me from pain.
I thought loving him was safe.
We forget about death,
when day after day dawns
like there'll always be another.
And for a while, there is -
always another.

Who knew how much I'd love
that goofy, smart, hilarious creature,
how deep the bond 'tween him and me?
Who knew how great an absence
his after-death would be?