Written by: JC Petrage
a puppy tumbled on your floor-
with the widest eyes and smallest paws-
a tiny tongue that licked your hand-
they pounced on toys that you had thrown-
they grew so fast-that tiny pup-
an adolescent dog they had become-
there were times they’d make you stress-
ignore your call or make a mess-
as time went on they joined your life-
you grew so close and realized-
this tiny pup that tumbled in-
was not just a dog but your best friend-
on those days life got to you-
you pushed them back to heal your wounds-
still they came to be by your side-
to lick those tears that you had cried-
and every time you left the house-
their biggest fear was you wouldn’t come back-
and when you did they wagged their tail-
and jumped on you and licked your face-
the years went by-time moved on-
you and that dog had become one-
all of the time you spent together-
making memories that would last forever-
one evening you sat upon the couch-
that dog wanted too but couldn’t get up-
you looked at her face-once puppy eyes-
looked back at you so old and wise-
and at that moment it hits your heart-
your puppies life is just too short-
you pick her up-that puppy girl-
hold her tight and cry into her fur-
they next few months are really hard-
she tries to keep up but really can’t-
you do everything you can to make it better-
but the story is written-you know the ending-
then comes the day that breaks your heart-
her last breath tears you apart-
how can it all be over now-
you scream inside and ask yourself-
and then a piece of your heart is gone-
and in that space is a tiny paw-
because when a dog gets inside your heart-
they leave a mark that never gets lost.
