Do They Know?
Do they know, as we do, that their time must come?
Yes, they know, at rare moments.
No other way can I interpret those pauses
of his latter life, when, propped on
his forefeet, he would sit for long minutes
quite motionless-his head drooped,
utterly withdrawn; then turn those eyes of
his and look at me.
That look said more plainly than all words
could: "Yes, I know that I must go."
If we have spirits that persist-they have.
If we know, after our departure, who we were-they
do.
No one, I think, who really longs for truth,
can ever glibly say which it will be
for dog and man-persistence or extinction
of our consciousness.
There is but one thing certain-the childishness
of fretting over that eternal
question.
Whichever it be, it must be right, the only
possible thing.
He felt that too, I know; but then, like his
master, he was what is called a
pessimist.
My companion tells me that, since he left
us, he has once come back.
It was Old Year's Night, and she was sad,
when he came to her in visible shape
of his black body, passing round the dining
table from the window end, to his
proper place beneath the table, at her feet.
She saw him quite clearly; she heard the padding
tap-tap of his paws and very
toe-nails; she felt his warmth brushing hard
against the front of her skirt.
She thought then that he would settle down
upon her feet, but something
disturbed him, and he stood pausing, pressed
against her, then moved out
toward where I generally sit, but was not
sitting that night.
She saw him stand there, as if considering;
then at some sound or laugh, she
became self-conscious, and slowly, very slowly,
he was no longer there.
Had he some message, some counsel to give,
something he would say, that last
night of the last year of all those he had
watched over us?
Will he come back again?
No stone stands over where he lies. It is
on our hearts that his life is engraved.
John Galsworthy
You're filled with anger and disbelief
you ask why take your pet; she never hurt
a leaf
Nothing makes sense; as you sit down and cry
but only the good Lord; can really say why
Into all our lives; a little rain must fall
and we must be strong; to answer that call
It usually happens; when are guard is down
then your feelings go on; a merry-go-round
You must hold on tight now; with all your might
because it's always darkest; before the light
Stop and take a look; down deep in your heart
it's there you'll find the strength; to make
a new start
Your little one is now home; in Heaven above
cradled in God's arms; covered with his love
This isn't the end; you'll see her one day
and on that special day; you'll be together
to stay
John Quealy
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