"Rescue Dog" by Terri Lynn Cummings

Rescue Dog

Terri Lynn Cummings

I turn to Abbey

when others turn away

when I do not want

my words repeated

when I speak

of nothing or nonsense

on days hollowed

by sorrow

She cocks her head

eyes wide in wonder

stands on my feet

anxious I will leave

as I doubt 

whether anyone ever

belongs to a life

What more is this

but an afternoon 

or a moment’s bow to loss

while I, like she, nothing

but water and air

stitched in skin

ill-shaped and faded

am soothed in mid-sentence 

by paws

Poet’s Notes:  In May, we lost Abbey, the best dog we had ever had. I continue to write about her. Perhaps it is less painful to write about our dog than the more recent loss of our young nephew to opioid addiction. Perhaps the mere thought of Abbey has the power of consolation. Whatever the reason, I thank her again and again.

Editor’s Note:  What a lovely tribute to Abbey, and such a beautiful rendering of how the instinctive empathy of dogs may brighten our days.  Dog owners will really identify with this poem (as do I), and I daresay pet owners in general will as well.