Gem, R.I.P., My Beloved Friend

My beautiful Akita was put to sleep today. He had developed cancer and complications. He has been my companion for over 13 years. A best friend like no other. I have been trying to bottle up the grief all day, but it is just past midnight and I am looking at his water bowl and I don't know how I will bear this night.

I will miss him for the rest of my life.

Something I wrote for him, minutes ago,

For Gem

One heart no longer beats tonight

One spirit

               no longer shares my life

And oh, one love

               is gone, is gone

               forever in my lifetime

Without you,

               I feel so insubstantial…

My friend, I’ll ever dream of you

               … so gentle

I named you true –

               a treasure and a rock

This broken heart will miss you

               miss you, miss you

But…

               wait for me up there…

We will walk

               among the stars one day…

You’ll chase the comets

               And I’ll be with you,

               out of breath perhaps

But we will never part again,

               I promise

But for the moment

               dearest friend,

               good bye.

******************************

This is him, the way I will always remember him, in flight