Beloved Duke is at RB...

[dukedogsmom]

I was cleaning out my emails and found this poem. I've kept it since I found it in November 2004, two years before I had to say goodbye to my dear dog. I was going to wait on posting it but thought I might forget about it. I saved it because it expresses how I, and probably others, feel about our heart dogs. My locket is the bracelet I made from one of his old collars. I wear it always, along with an old tag and a silver heart.

OLD DOG IN A LOCKET

Old dog in a locket
That lies next to my heart
I will always love you
As I did right from the start.
You were right beside me
Through the darkest of my days
It was your kind and gentle nature
That made me want to stay.
Now I hold you in my arms
Your breath still warm against my hand
Our hearts still beat together
And I wonder if you understand.
Through the hours that I held you
Before the light did leave your soul
I knew a way to keep you
Forever in my hold.
I snipped the hair from around your eyes
So I would always see
The beauty that surrounds me
Even in times of need.
I snipped the hair from around your ears
So I would always hear
Music in the distance
To quiet any fears.
I snipped the hair from across your back
To bring me strength in times of need
And the power of your essence
Would always be with me.
I snipped the hair from around your heart
That beats in time with mine
So I would know that love would find me
At some distant time.
And so, your life slipped out of mine
On a quiet, spring-like day
But I knew that part of you
Was always hear to stay.
Old dog in a locket
That lays next to my heart
I will always love you
Even though we had to part.
Anonymous

[Catty1]

I was looking through Pet Poems, and found this Last Will and Testament of Eugene O'Neill's dog, Blemie! Parts of it - I thought of you and Duke...and it is not without a slight humour. I hope you like it.

http://www.petloss.com/poems/maingrp/lastwill.htm

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF AN EXTREMELY DISTINGUISHED DOG

by Eugene O'Neill

I, SILVERDENE EMBLEM O'NEILL (familiarly known to my family, friends, and acquaintances as Blemie), because the burden of my years and infirmities is heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my last will and testament in the mind of my Master. He will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask him then to inscribe it as a memorial to me.

I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain the objects they have not. There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Master and Mistress, who I know will mourn me most, to Freeman who has been so good to me, to Cyn and Roy and Willie and Naomi and -- But if I should list all those who have loved me, it would force my Master to write a book. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near death, which returns all beasts and vanities to dust, but I have always been an extremely lovable dog.

I ask my Master and Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause them pain. Let them remember that while no dog has ever had a happier life (and this I owe to their love and care for me), now that I have grown blind and deaf and lame, and even my sense of smell fails me so that a rabbit could be right under my nose and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation. I feel life is taunting me with having over-lingered my welcome. It is time I said good-bye, before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those who love me. It will be sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life. What may come after death, who knows? I would like to believe with those my fellow Dalmatians who are devote Mohammedans, that there is a Paradise where one is always young and full-bladdered; where all the day one dillies and dallies with an amorous multitude of houris [lovely nymphs], beautifully spotted; where jack rabbits that run fast but not too fast (like the houris) are as the sands of the desert; where each blissful hour is mealtime; where in long evenings there are a million fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and blinks into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth, and the love of one's Master and Mistress.

I am afraid this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect. But peace, at least, is certain. Peace and long rest for weary old heart and head and limbs, and eternal sleep in the earth I have loved so well. Perhaps, after all, this is best.

One last request I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say, "When Blemie dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one." Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again. What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog! I have never had a narrow jealous spirit. I have always held that most dogs are good (and one cat, the black one I have permitted to share the living room rug during the evenings, whose affection I have tolerated in a kindly spirit, and in rare sentimental moods, even reciprocated a trifle). Some dogs, of course, are better than others. Dalmatians, naturally, as everyone knows, are best. So I suggest a Dalmatian as my successor. He can hardly be as well bred or as well mannered or as distinguished and handsome as I was in my prime. My Master and Mistress must not ask the impossible. But he will do his best, I am sure, and even his inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory green. To him I bequeath my collar and leash and my overcoat and raincoat, made to order in 1929 at Hermes in Paris. He can never wear them with the distinction I did, walking around the Place Vendome, or later along Park Avenue, all eyes fixed on me in admiration; but again I am sure he will do his utmost not to appear a mere gauche provincial dog. Here on the ranch, he may prove himself quite worthy of comparison, in some respects. He will, I presume, come closer to jack rabbits than I have been able to in recent years.

And for all his faults, I hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home.

One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved". No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

[dukedogsmom]

That was really beautiful. Made me cry like a baby, though. I think it's going to take years for it not to hurt so badly. It's like a piece of me has been lost, never to be found again.

[Catty1]

Sweetie - didn't mean to make you cry. I did smile at the part where Blemie is telling his owners exactly WHAT the next dog should be like...which made me think that Duke was right fussy about who your next companion should be too!

"What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog!"

"...my successor. He can hardly be as well bred or as well mannered or as distinguished and handsome as I was in my prime. My Master and Mistress must not ask the impossible. But he will do his best, I am sure, and even his inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory green...he may prove himself quite worthy of comparison, in some respects...And for all his faults, I hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home."

If you can see the self-pride in the words above...I hope you can smile.

HUGS!

[Dorothy39]

Oh Gee, Val~ (sniff, sniff) Bless all who Mourn~

Rest assure that Duke will never leave your side, not even in Death.

Thank-You again for the lovely poem and for sharing Duke ~ Thank-You Catty 1 for "The Last Will and Testiment of Extremely Distinguished Dog.

~sighs~

[chocolatepuppy]

Val, that poem,' OLD DOG IN A LOCKET' is so touching. I have some of Mandy's hair. I could do that. Now I just need a locket. I have one on a bracelet but would like it near my heart.
I know you still hurt terribly and miss Duke so much. I know the feeling. {hugs}

[dukedogsmom]

I want to be able to remember you without tears and so much pain I wrote this a few weeks ago. I miss you.

Just below the surface
The tears are always there
Just the mention of your name can
Make them reappear
Even after all this time,
My heartache feels so new
I always said I'd be lost without you
And now I find it's true
I look for you in rainbows
And even in my dreams
We'll be apart forever, it seems
You were my soulmate
And it hurts like hell
Will I get over losing you?
Only time will tell

[dukedogsmom]

My Dearest Dog,
This time last year, I was on the floor beside you, trying to take in every moment with you. Knowing the next day I would have to say goodbye. The tears fall now, just as they did then. A part of my heart will always ache from that goodbye. It hurts so much to have the bond weakened. But it will never be broken. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. You were, and always will be, my heart dog. I'll never forget you. I miss you
[img]www.boomspeed.com/dukedogsmom/032505_10.jpg[/img]
Love,
Mama

[chocolatepuppy]

Val, many {{{hugs}}} to you. I will have you in my thoughts today. I know it is hard, even still. One day, we will see our babies again ...

[Dorothy39]

Oh Val~( sniff, sniff) The Bond you have with Duke has not weakened at all~even though a portion of your heart still aches when remembering that moment of Sweet Surrender. That Bond is as strong as Iron now, Duke will always be a lasting fiber within your tremendous Character~ That is the gift he left for you.

(((HUGS)))