For Sasha
Christa McElroyThe Dog I Never Wanted was our first foster collie, Her owner brought her — a dreadful mess of matted fur. Another casualty of war – divorced from each other, They had no more room for her in their hearts. Thanks to heartworm and human indifference She was very sick for months — but rallied, And never lost her sense of humor. Although I may have – once or twice. Not charming to look at, she seemed Hardly a collie at all – shaven, pudgy and short. In her Elizabethan collar, with one leg bandaged, She looked like a mutant canine snow cone. The Dog I Never Wanted flunked adoption. Not once, but twice. The last family called her vicious. And so she came waddling “home”, Once again 10 pounds overweight. With a bad back. Rescue Clubs have rules, and so a choice, To keep her as our own, or have her put to sleep….. I didn’t want another dog, but — put her down? That’s no choice at all. The Dog I Never Wanted Was an eager teacher, a reluctant student, Never without her own opinion, Never hesitant to lend its voice. The Dog I Never Wanted Loved her humans, her cats and her dogs. She blessed us with ten years of total devotion. Accompanied by frequent deafening commentary. The Dog I Never Wanted Died today. We buried her behind the house, Where, in happier days, She rolled in the grass, waving her paws at the sky, Barking – at what, only God knew … And I realized — in the sudden silence, That the only thing I really want Is to have her back forever. |
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