By Matthew Harrison (@MattHurrison)
My family recently had a visitor; a stout, old dog with a golden coat. Her name was Abby and she spent the week with us while her family watched the sunrise in Mexico.
January 3rd
A nervous old gal
Wanders after a green ball
Her tail gently wags
I watched her walk around the house, acquainting herself with the place and the people in it. I decided I would spend the week writing about her.
The morning after her first night with us, too early for the sun to have rizen, I heard Abby barking at the front door.
Brought myself downstairs
Soon enough she fell asleep
As the sun came up
She was only a bit lonesome. A little company was all it took for her to be right as rain. The next few days went lazily and happily by.
January 4th
Quiet afternoon
Doing yoga with Abby
Sit in the sunshine
January 5th
Stay up with Abby
The sun set too soon tonight
We will watch it rise
–
Soft, gentle breathing
Wandering through a dreamscape
Chasing the sunrise
January 6th
From your sweet, brown eyes
Two quiet blinks come my way
Before you drift off
It was my dad who first noticed her behaviour was different than normal. We made a group visit to the vet before dinner. Four of us waited together to hear what the results of her ultrasound were.
The vet suspected she had cancer and that it was rapidly progressing. We told him the owners would be home in four days.
“Four days is an awfully long time” was all he said.
As darkness descends
This house grows quiet and still
Oh, these long, cold nights
–
Sleep tonight
Spend your last days well
You are loved
–
Waiting together
For this endless night to pass
Sleep, my tired friend
January 7th
It was 2:00PM when she let her last breath go. After she passed, I held her paw and cried with the crown of my head pressed to the floor.
Her head felt heavy
“Rest easy, little sister”
Your pain has ended
I came home that night to a quiet and empty home. Without her bed, the living room felt too big.
This room feels empty
There is no one keeping guard
Ever since you left
–
Gone too soon
Thy name has been called
Taken home
I stood on the patio that night, looking off into the darkness. I held an ear to the wind hoping to hear something to take my mind off everything. All I heard was a chilled breeze drifting by and the silent ache of loneliness.
Only cold silence
I wished to hear coyotes
In the dark distance
Life is beautiful but it is also finite and unpredictable. I won’t soon forget my time spent with Abby. From her I learned how precious life is and how love is the greatest thing in this world.
I wish you were here
Does a great beyond exist?
Come tell me sometime
