My Golden Heart (a guest poem by my sister)

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Golden Heart

We sit in grief this night with our sweet Huckleberry boy;
Watch his body rise and fall with peaceful, gentle breaths.
In deep sleep he wags his tail and chases rabbits still,
This dog of ours has brought with him so much happiness,
And he will go and leave us with lovely memories.

In such sacred times I think on things like virtues most hold true;
Our love for children and God’s creatures and all the elders too,
Laughter, love and kindness, empathy, and honesty for sure;
Admiration for the deeply challenged few
Who do not subscribe to victimhood. 

Apart from these I do not see a point.
I weep in brokenness for distraction from my purpose
To love, to rise, to forgive all things with grace.
So, I’ll sage my home, cleanse my heart, confess my sins
And live my life in peace.

When demons come a knocking, they cannot enter here
Their boastful pride and hatred; their lies and judgement too.
For these are machinations of lesser gods who have no power in me.
They are not invited in you see; I have sacred work to do.

He is separating wheat from tares in fields stretched out before me.

I will not fret nor gather back the tares.
Huck will gently kiss my face and I will kiss his head
And wipe away my tears.
So, run to Bonnie; run to Dew; Molson is there too.
For there they wait in tall, soft grass just to love on you.

You remind me of these truths my friend, my golden heart.
Sleep well and deep. Sweet dreams tonight.
I’ll see you in the morning I am certain sure,
Thank you for the love you gave.
My darlin’, my Huckleberry boy.

© by Paula D. King

Prelude to a Nap - A Haiku

Prelude to a Nap

Ratty recliner.
Old man lowers himself down.
Knees pop. Dog climbs up.

© 2018 by Tom King

Plush Angels

Plush Angels

It’s in their eyes you see it

Trust looking back at you from dark pools;

Eyes shining full of animal love.

Dogs and horses are like that you know.

God’s plush angels; ministering spirits

Unconditional love in those eyes

The master teacher delivering lessons

Through the humblest of teacher’s aides.

By Tom King

© 2017

April 16 - Daisy's Chains

Daisy’s Chains

She was just a dog, so why the hole
In our hearts, now that she is gone?
We didn’t rescue her. She rescued us.
It was our souls she’d print herself upon.

She danced upon our hearts not long enough
Always underfoot, her foolish lopsided grin
Telling us there were squirrels outside
That needed chasing up their trees again.

A chain of evidence, of a vibrant doggy life;
Everywhere the traces of the love she left behind;
Of a life well-lived among the humans she possessed.
Traces meant for us one day to find.

One by one I’ll collect them all – her toys, her blankets;
Her bed, her brush, her collar, all the things about her.
And her human mom and me, weep over every bit and bob,
We come upon in our struggle to live on without her.

©  2016 by Tom King

Daisy's Brown Eyes Shining

Daisy's Brown Eyes Shining

She ate my sock again today
A gesture that was meant with true affection.
Brown eyes looked up at me for sign
That I approved what lovingly was meant.
And when I barked in my gruff style
She cut those dark brown shining eyes at me
A sadder thing you will not see
A dog's regret for unintended crimes.

by Tom King © 2010

Daisy in Distress

© 2011 by Tom King

I hardly knew how much she meant to me.
this furry dog-child curled up upon the floor.
I suppose it's cause the kids are up and grown
And little need my company anymore,
That I have grown attached;
That I find my heartstrings
Played upon when only lately such sweet music I forbore.

We have them for so brief a time, a spring
It seems, and then they slip so quietly away,
And leave a wounded heart behind to soldier on
And face the living wars and troubles day to day;
No warm breathing by my chair
No dark eyes shining up at me.
I miss her already, even though she has not gone away.

To love a thing that much, so fleeting in its passage
Whether, wife or child or friend or even hound
Lays bare the heart to wounding when the loved is lost
Or threatened even by injury or illness found;
A trip to the hospital,
An overnight at the vet,
Leaving the anxious heart to flutter and to pound. 

God in His mercy surely makes provision,
For kids and wives, beagles and hounds - a place
Beyond this life; a treasure house where loves
May be renewed. For surely in His grace
His tender heart could never bear
A love forever lost;
A loved one's shining eyes, no longer looking up into His face.