3-11-11

gypsy my 13 year old hunting dog
left today for the last time
taking her piece of my heart
nick and I were petting her as the vet
administered her last breath
releasing her from her struggle
our tears tried to wash away our sadness
as they rolled down her soft white hair
and soaked into her soft sheepskin bed
she will be cremated and come back to me
in a white urn where she joins dogs Ike and Indy
and husband John waiting for me
on a shelf in the antique cupboard in the loft
alone in my bed in the cabin last night
the quiet resting my ears and my tears
I ask gypsy to give me a sign
of her happy new life
another pointer snapper long time gone
kept coming into my mind
dawn brought a perfect morning to be out hunting
the breeze was cool and just right to carry a scent
I put on my cap and Johns old jacket
and headed out to the bench by the Cross
the low gray clouds were going by fast overhesd
the sun was breaking through
something caught my eye
a blue heron came flying by
circled just over my head and moved on
there it was gypsy was with snapper
the special pointer that use to point herons
when we lived on lake LBJ
gypsys friends are visiting
three wild turkeys just came by
their visits are infrequent
gypsys life was all about birds
I will keep watch for her next friends
my daughter sarah called from San Antonio
and said the birds were singing louder today
their joy in our lives holds us in its grasp
as we struggle to survive such sadness
and realize how much greater
the joy of having them is
than the grief of losing them
her joyful spirit never left her
I learned much from this
champion of companions
and will miss her dearly