lavender

my dog…died
in her sleep last night
her tired heart let go,
her soul slipped out
from a worn body
slowly shedding warmth,
no soft whimper
to disturb my slumber
though my heart sensed
a cool kiss on my face
sometime in the night.

we’d talked once before
- she and i - the moment.
i held her serious face,
her transfixed gaze,
steeled myself gave a
hard commandment
[when you must leave,
leave me this way:
asleep in my arms
dreaming a love free
from pretense and voice]

smart knew the word love
needless persuasion,
knew also those i never
taught her like empathy
and joy she had draped
over me in grand dogness
generosity; now could
memories alone lift a
heart brooding among the
yellow and bright green
toys gathering silent dust?

my dog…died
compliant in her sleep
my spirit followed
keeping close behind
under wild blue high
chasing silver butterflies
in lavender fields ethereal
and far from here, and there
sometime in the night
is awakened by a
cool kiss on the face.

*photo with permission and credit to Beverly
http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkadog/3391381010/