Thursday, July 13, 2006



My dog, Charlie, who died today. Thanks for 17 years of love and loyalty, Charlie. I'll never forget you. When I came home tonight the house was so empty without you.


The Power of the Dog
by
Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passsion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart to a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-term loan is as bad as a long--
So why in--Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

When the body that lived at your single will,
When the whimper of welcome is stilled
(HOW STILL!)
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone - wherever it goes - for good,
You soon discover how much you care,
And give your heart to a NEW dog to tear.

4 comments:

34quinn said...

hi, there ((hugs)) ...the loss of a pet is never ever easy. they love us so unconditionally. In that our loss feels so much deeper than many other relationships in our lives.

I understand your pain. You must remember all the wonderfull times you shared and all the happy memories you will have forever.

If you look back on my posts in the last month I posted some photos of my puppy and kitty as well as a photo of my beloved "VELVET" with the caption ...love is a big wet kiss.

We lost our girl about a year and a half ago..she is never far from our thoughts and a very missed part of our family.

we have a beautiful photo of her on our living room mantle as well as her collar and tags there.

They are as much a part of our family as our own children and you should allow yourself time to grieve just as much as for a person.

sending you hugs across the miles.

Secretly Me said...

I'm so sorry Charlie passed on. Just knowing this has brought tears to my eyes for you and him. So glad you had 17 wonderful years with him and so many memories and photos to cherish his memory too.

He's in a happy place now and you'll get to see him again one day. (((hugs))) across the pond for you on this day.

TotalChaos said...

I'm so sorry. I know the feeling, and it is hard. Reading Kipling, brought tears to my eyes, because it is so true.

CG said...

Thanks for your kind comments, guys. It really means a lot to me to have read them :)