Vox Populi
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Leslie McGrath: The Death of Dogs
He has done what he has done each winter morning
since laying claim to the couch the day we adopted him--
followed the sun along its cushioned landscape
from one tufted yellow arm to the other.
Though he appears to be sleeping, his pointed ears
swivel as I walk through the room.
I have washed the old bedspread and folded it
over the back of a chair.
We have paced each hour
the fenced backyard as he teetered on the ice
straining to express a few small drops of rosy piss.
The snow is melting.
He will be gone this time tomorrow
Our vet will pull into the driveway
with a weary kindness and two needles.
The last thing we will give him is not sleep
but a painless death.
We will save his dish. We will keep his green collar
on its hook at the back door.
In the middle of the night when he thinks
I’m asleep, Bill will weep without sound
shaking the bed like a curse at God
who allowed a shoe-stealer who pulled at the leash
until he passed out, a dog with an unmeetable need
for attention, to sleep between us for a decade, then leave us
to learn again how to comfort each other.
Copyright 2020 Leslie McGrath
Leslie McGrath’s books include Feminists Are Passing From Our Lives (Word Works, 2018).
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I agree, Jeanie!
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Thank you for that truly moving, loving, humble poem.
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Thanks, Laure-Anne!
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A very moving poem. I’ve been through the experience of having a sick and dying dog put to sleep, and it broke my heart. Your poem captures the pain of the experience so, so well.
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A very true poem of feelings I have often had myself.
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Poem of Death of a dog was a rough one but glad to see his her world thru moving sunlight and making a spot for remembrance.
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Leslie, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I’m glad that your dog had people who loved him, whom he loved in return. So many dogs are not that fortunate.
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Agree with all of the above. This brought tears. My Labradors all did this, and (oddly) so did my father. (Msg me and I’ll share the poem.)
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Thank you for this poem of longing and grief, expiated by your words made song.
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Beautiful poems with lovely, wise conclusion. So difficult to make these decisions!
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Leslie, this is a truly beautiful, very moving, poem. I admire your skill with words and meaning and your courage around talking in a direct and honest way so very much! It is beautiful!
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