Thursday, June 18, 2015

Pictures of a Big Black Laughing Dog


Gamboling along a happy beach,
lolloping in and out of the waves with a loopy grin



lying far out on the shore at sunset
watching the colours fade


running ahead through the forest,
then looping back to check I was still there


his eyes following me everywhere
his footsteps padding beside me
his big head  resting against my knee
his nose on the edge of my bed every morning
his whuff of greeting
his big delirious grin
him standing on his hind legs to hug me 
on my return from being away


his face peering at me 
from the depths of a snowbank


So many moments captured,
against his being gone,
against that final ride to the vet's,
his bent and broken body padding softly, 
against his will, to his doom

In my mind he is as alive as he ever was,
a presence in my life too large
to ever be truly gone,
a spirit too big, 
to ever really die.

for Fireblossom Friday's prompt at Real Toads: Pictures of............Of course, choosing the photos and writing the words made me cry. I have cried a river over missing that big black laughing dog.


30 comments:

  1. I simply cannot imagine a better subject for my "pictures of" challenge, Sherry. Pup is a great soul who can never die.

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  2. A beautiful & heartwarming piece Sherry... know that Pup will always be with you in spirit..

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  3. Now, I'm crying a river. Just beautiful, Sherry!

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  4. Great pictures and very touching words, Sherry! I think my favorite photo is the second one - Pup and eternity.

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  5. He is still with you. What a special beauty.

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  6. Thank you for sharing his presence with us. Never stop! By now, he is more than a dog to me!

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  7. If I could cry I would.. just read a poem about how men cannot cry.. and yes it's hard. Truly beautiful. and the picture show so much joy.

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  8. I love this Sherry. Too bad he had to go. You reminded me so much of our Adi, and her last trip to the vet. But like you and Boy Pup, we had sooo many good moments. Adi and I were a 'pet therapy team.' We shared with others too.
    ..

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  9. Beautiful - this snuck up on me - wonderful.

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  11. I felt the joy looking at the photos, the loss in the words. You were so lucky to live with this guy!

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  12. Precious memories...beautiful to read.

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  13. It is a wrench losing your best friend....and that was what that gorgeous creature was to you....how lucky we are...those of us who have been blessed in experiencing this special type of friendship and closeness with a pet.....They have been sent to show us how to love and give selflessly. They are better than us. Very moving poem.

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  14. A wonderful dog, best friend...a big loss for sure! xoxoxoxo

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  15. Pictures of the heart as much or more than the camera--so indelible. My old dog is getting closer to that day of limping to the vet for the last time--it is hard to watch, harder still to know you can;t spare them, only love them.

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  16. The last four lines are gorgeous. So tender this memory

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  17. This combination of words and pictures is a touching album to the memory of a beloved animal companion.

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  18. I love the one with the hat!

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  19. Always at the top of your game when poems celebrate your beloved companion!

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  20. How wonderful that you had such a dear dog-- I know you miss him so. Thanks. K.

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  21. And I join you. Sherry he's so special and I'm so grateful that you shared these wonder-full pictures with us! ♥

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  22. Looks like Pup was a beloved companion through every season in all kinds of weather!

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  23. Really, what a beautiful dog Pup was. Your words here, as well as your wonderful photos, again bring him to life!

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  24. Oh this does bring tears..a mixture of joy and sorrow. What a beautiful animal. Pup's spirit surrounds you.

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  25. Those images so lifted my heart - and the "final ride to the vets"... those are so hard. But - all those wonderful moments we do hold dear for the rest of our lives.

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  26. Sherry i can picture this; as a child i had dogs as pets, never had pets as an adult though

    thanks for dropping in to read mine

    much love...

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  27. Oh Sherry, you brought tears to my eyes, as I recalled all the pets I've lost over the years.
    The pictures, and poem are to be treasured.

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  28. damn. tears, beautiful, Sherry ~

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  29. oh, i know your pain, Sherry ~ after eight and a half years, i still miss Jazz, my cat companion of seventeen years. they're still part of us. i love the pictures of your big black laughing dog!

    hope all is well with you!

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  30. I never even met that big black laughing dog, and I've cried for him as symbol of all my canine friends gone. I loved the pictures Sherry.

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