For Mary

My MaryBear is gone.
A piece of my heart goes with her,
But a piece of her remains in mine.
A fair trade.

Only three and a half years you graced our lives.
Happy happy MaryBear.
Not the brightest star in the sky,
But always the happiest, we’d say.
The tough girl of the house
Keeping the boys in line.
Grabbing fingers from my hand
Along with your treats.
You’d join the other dogs in barking,
Without even knowing what you were barking about.
Barking into the wind, just ‘cuz.
‘Cuz you were the MaryBear.
Following me into the bathroom.
Couldn’t let mom out of your sight.
Stealing Daphne’s sleeping spot on the floor
Beside my side of the bed, where you’d snore the night away.
I do not know why someone no longer wanted you.
But I’m forever grateful to have had you in my life.
A perfect dog, a perfect friend.

But when your tail no longer wagged,
And your eyes no longer sparkled,
And your sealion bark no longer echoed off the walls
And made my earsdrums feel about to split,
And your legs no longer carried you to follow behind me,
And you didn’t respond when I’d call your name,
I knew it was time to let you go.
Past time, perhaps, because I could not be objective.
You were still the perfect dog to me. The perfect friend.

I couldn’t bear to give you up
For fear my heart would break. I have survived.
But a piece of my heart went with you,
And a piece of you remains in mine.
A fair trade.

I’ll love you forever.

Beverley
6:30 pm
March 15, 2007