Goldie’s Love

Like a Down-syndrome child, who try as she might

Just doesn’t comprehend,

You look trustingly into my watery eyes

Thinking that I’m your friend

But what kind of friend sends prayers up to God

Begging for you to die?

And what kind of friend takes steps on her own,

Ignoring God’s reply?

The tears that I shed are not for you—

They selfishly roll for me

For you’ll move on, but I must remain

With the truth you do not see:

I never truly loved you, dog

Though I walked and groomed you and such

For I saw you as a ditzy pooch

Who’d never amount to much

A retriever that wouldn’t chase a ball

Or swim or even wade

And couldn’t learn to speak or shake

Just didn’t make the grade

Still, I would have found a place for you

To grow within my heart

If only you’d done that simple thing

That was keeping us apart

The iceberg that loomed in front of me

Was your passive attitude

You never smiled and wagged your tail

To show your gratitude

So I didn’t see that your heart was pure

Loving children; strangers; all

And I didn’t see your love for me

From behind that monstrous wall

But I see it now in your clouded eyes

Through my salty, raindrop tears

As the vet awaits my signal nod

To end your fifteen years

I stroke your head one final time

And turn to look away,

But a tiny flicker catches my eye—

And I curse this beastly day

Dedicated to Goldie, age fourteen;

Not because it’s true—but because it might have been

Sherrie J. Lyons

©2000