Ode to Pip

Those dark chocolate eyes,

Yellowed by disease,

Will haunt me forever,

Along with those loving, last licks.

I wish I were deaf,

To be saved the pang,

That came with that tired whimper,

As the plunger pressed down.

All certainty flew from me,

As I saw how alive you were,

Seconds from death,

Questioning myself kindness.

I held back my tears,

To forfeit that indulgence,

So you could be cradled asleep,

And showered instead in love.

You were a good boy,

So strong and brave,

Nearing four months,

Short by only six days.

Sleep and rest,

You fought so well,

In only nine days,

You became immortal.

And if there is a god,

A righteous one at that,

May he abandon the beasts,

Who abandoned you!

May the Quinns rot,

Be turned away,

Be lower than rats,

And left with only droppings!

But this is not for them,

It’s a monument to you,

May you enjoy good walks,

Wherever your tail wags now.

(In Loving Memory, 08/09/24 -02/01/25)