The curtain fell on his act, he departed, his job done.
Not waiting for the applause nor for the standing ovation.
A wobbly speck of white he was into our world that had bounced in
A companion, sibling, pet, a friend, all roles played to perfection.
Still he lay on my lap now, unlike ere, not a twitch,
Not even an eye opening, the tail not wagging, his body limp.
Respite our "Chippi" had alas found from all torture and all pain
The cancer that he could not tame, claimed him and snatched him away.
His darling mango tree now shields him, he sleeps there with all his belongings;
The water mug, his paper ball, his leash, the hair brush and even my wrist band.
Perchance watching us in peace, we had let him go, bade him goodbye,
But memories! they refuse to be kind, haunt me with clock-like regularity.
I see him prancing all over our courtyard with ears pricking
Head cocking, tilting to and fro, wiggling to wedge in closer to us, flaring,
Pressing his pink nose on every inch of ground, zig-zagging,
Leaving pawprints of his love for us, perhaps to comfort us when he is no more.
I see him sharing our beds, our moments of celebration and gloom,
Lifting us from the abyss of despair,
Licking away our tears, exuberant in our joy,
Pleading for just a pat or a big hug from us, his dearest ones.
Now the little fuzzy white ball that we'd cuddled
In spite of the sometimes stinky doghide
Will never jump out from the midst of fallen damp leaves
Or glide through mud and slug-infested gardens in lightning speed
Silent, sick and in agony he had lain
His shiny eyes reflecting gratitude
For our proximity, our care and attention.
Did'nt' we but owe it to him
To be worthy of such devotion
To be loved so unconditionally
To be revered like the Gods?
