Elsa: Ode to a Best Friend

When I hurt the most

Your soft fur soothed

When nobody else would

You cuddled up with me

Little girl lost

Alone

And all at sea

You came and swam with me

~~~

Such a clever dog

You learnt how to knock

On the letterbox

So we’d let you in

One, two, three, four …

Rat-a-tat-tat

At our front door

More human(e) than them all

~~~

We should have named you

Denim

With your fear

Of unwashed

Brand new jeans

The way you’d hide

Behind the sofa

And growl

~~~

Even in your fright

You were never anything

But gentle

Our gazes would lock

And in me you’d trust

Allow me to coax you out

To stroke you calm

And accepted my promise of no harm

~~~

Your chocolate eyes

Deep pools in which I could drown

Filled with love and confidence

And unconditional acceptance

Such a rare thing

In those days of old

When family only ever seemed to throw

Insult and rejection—their comfort blanket cold

~~~

No matter how much love I shared

You were the only one

Who gave it back

You expressed so much

In your myriad looks

Whoever said animals are dumb

Knew even less than you

Whose intelligence shone through

~~~

Your heart’s brightness

Shines even now

Lights my way

In the dark

With soft memories

Of the hours

We’d lie together

And share your bed

~~~

The only time

You let me down

Was at the table

When I tried to deceive

And feed you

Instead of me

You took the stringy meat

Chewed it up and spat it out

~~~

Left me in the lurch

You did

And perhaps

Even then

You gave a needed lesson:

Be honest

So I could be

My truest self

~~~

Infectious

With your playfulness

And love of life

Your unquestioning affection

And loyalty

If we could only listen

You had so much to teach

Us stubborn humans

~~~

Apart from your strange aversion

To the smell of denim jeans

I never once saw

You judge or discriminate

And even when wrongly accused

Of the crimes of your doggy mate

The worst you’d offer

Was a stern canine stare

~~~

Your constant kindness

And patient forbearance

Set me on the right track

And I can only hope

With my cuddles, love, and thanks

I managed to pay you back

That I live the kind of life

That passes on your legacy

~~~

Am I forgiving?

Kind and loving?

Open and understanding?

Do I wear your soft fur?

Or do I prickle and glare

At the smallest slight?

Do my chocolate eyes

Mirror the depths of yours?

~~~

German Shepherd

Beautiful dog

Canine version of a god

I’ll never forget

That soul-crushing day

When I came home from school

And you’d gone away

Crossed the rainbow bridge

~~~

No matter how many

Furry friends followed

In your wake

None could ever match your spirit

Nor personality

Always so much more

Than a mere pet

A girl’s best friend

~~~

In my humble opinion

If not for your influence

I wouldn’t be

The adult I am today

You the parent

Me the child

Your selfless example

Kept me from the wild

~~~

Oh, my dear, dear confidante

Full of fur

And full of fun

You taught me how to fly

As well as how to run

You changed

My lonely life

Took away my strife

~~~

Showed me the way

To live full and contented

Showed me what love is

You took away everything

Bad and sad and left

Only the good

I couldn’t even breathe

Without my memories of you

~~~

My perfect furry friend

A cuddly companion

A soothing balm

An oil on turbulent waters

Always forgiving

Always caring

You understood

When nobody else would

~~~

Elsa … beloved dog

Beloved playmate

Beautiful and sweet

I loved you then

I love you still

My beating heart

Belongs to you

And always will

[Auhtor’s note: One of my lingering regrets is that I have no photographs from my childhood. Not a single one. I would have dearly loved to share with you pictures of Elsa. This unassuming, unmatched furry friend would have captured your heart whole.

Instead, I can only give thanks and gratitude to Rebecca Campbell and Luzelle Cockburn from Unsplash for their generous sharing of their candid canine images. Thank you.

And thank you, dear reader, for sharing with me my fond memories of a family pet and my lifelong friend. I hope my words moved you as much as this amazing dog has moved me over the years.]