I held you when you were small, just like a child.
You were full of vigor and vim, never really mild.
Our home was loud; at times it was deafening.
We’d always come home to a surprise reckoning.

As you grew, so did your appetite for food and fun,
running in the backyard as if you were chasing someone.
You would take up half our bed as if you really tried,
stretching out your legs, digging them into our sides.

We would take you for rides; oh, how you loved those!
You would get so excited, licking us both head to toe.
You would cry until we rolled down the back windows,
sticking your head outside, jowls just flapping as we go.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into many, many years,
grey starting to show on you, causing me some tears.
We all knew that your life span was so unfair to ours,
that someday you’d be gone from us, way up in the stars.

In my lap you would lay till my entire legs fell asleep.
I petted your head and ears until you finally fell in deep,
snoring so loud I couldn’t even hear my television show.
Then you started crying a lot and to the vet we would go.

From this point, everything has become a blur in my mind.
We heard the vet tell the news; you didn’t have very much time.
They told us there was nothing more that they could do.
That was the moment it was taken; your love I had to lose.

Now you’re gone; my chair feels empty; my leg is not asleep.
This house is empty without a single noise, not even a peep.
I sit and stare at the dog bed and your toys strewn everywhere.
I’m holding your favorite one right now, wishing you were here,

For the loss of you was very hard because you were family.
No one could ever say, “That’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”
Even though some time has passed now, you’re still on my mind.
I see a dog running, causing special memories I would find.