Poem For My Dead Dog

from Out With Lanterns, a daily poetry practice

How do I explain that the crow 
called, loud and urgent,
right outside the open porch door 
exactly as I thought of you? 
How do I say that losing you
left me clinging barely, poorly, to life?
How can I tell the world that 
the truth is, I know you helped me
in death, in spirit, in ways unimaginable? 
I know you made a pact with 
the birds: raven, crow, crane, hawk,
stellar's jay, hummingbird, finch,
to continue timely visits on your behalf.
I suppose I write to thank you
for still showing up so purely, 
for giving me again, even in your afterlife, 
such quiet, unconditional love. 

If you weren’t already aware, I wrote a book about my sacred relationship with this astounding soul. It ‘s called Dog Medicine, How My Dog Saved Me From Myself, available wherever books are sold.