The Poetry Project

Heaven for Arden

Back when Arden could still go for a walk--a real walk,

not the twenty yards or so
he stumbles and lurches now--

he used to be anxious and uncertain, looking to me,

stopping awhile, tentatively, to see if I'd agree
to go no further, sometimes whining a bit

in case I'd respond. Sooner or later,

the turn would come; we'd gone far enough
for one day. Joy! As if he'd been afraid all along

this would be the one walk that would turn out to be infinite.

Then he could take comfort
in the certainty of an ending,

and treat the rest of the way as a series of possibilities;
then he could run,

and find pleasure in the woods beside the path.

--Mark Doty

RIP, Gracie (a.k.a. Girlfriend, Stinky, Gracers, Crazy Dog, Goofball)
August 31, 2001 - July 25, 2012

The dog fans among you would do well to also check out Mark Doty's memoir Dog Years.

 

Comments

[Miss T]

RIP Gracie, you sweet sweet girl.

[Snowball]

The poem is so ... Being older, and animal lovers, we've faced this more than once. Now I find myself typing through tears. They give us unconditional love. They put up with our shortcomings. And a simple smile makes their day.

I'm so, so sorry. May Gracie's memories warm and comfort you.

[Amy Rea]

Thanks, Snowball and Miss T. Really, check out his memoir, Dog Years. You will cry, but it will be worth it.

[Patricia]

I was going back in time on your blog looking for an entry and I saw this one that I missed ... Even though it is late i want to say how sorry I am. I definitely know how you feel.

[Amy Rea]

Thank you, Patricia.