Bye, Charley

I’m sitting for the last night
with our dog,
for the gentle needle comes tomorrow.

Under my chin
a warm hairy lump
wheezes softly,
and twitches in fading dreams.

My own memories fade too
with age-driven sad pace.
So I’m wrapping these words around him
to help me save this last embrace

Somewhere a clock ticks quietly,

loudly,

unstoppably.

He stirs, and whines
with penetrating, irritating, much-loved tone,
and licks my face
to reassure us both.

Remember these smells,
this noise,
this hairy ear
teased between my fingers
to irritate him back.

Remember the weight,
heartbreakingly less,
draped over my belly
as I breathe deep to rock him
into some peace,
in the curve of my arm
across and inside my heart.

Charley ever-present on a messy office floor