when love lays down its life

Drifting in and out of what she's always known.
Singing quietly while snowflakes coat her hair.
Offering her arms outstretched, a warm embrace.
She huddles closely to his fur; he licks her face.
Vaguely she can hear a distant siren wail.
Closely he whines and barks and wakes her still.
Opening her eyes again she faintly sees
The memories of her puppy as they played with glee.
Drops of tears out from his eyes awaken her.
He huddles closely as strange men now appear.
They pick her up into a stretcher as she cries,
"Don't leave my puppy." And they said, "He saved your life."
"So save his too." But there was nothing they could do.
"Your faithful labrador gave his life for you."
She wept aloud and as they worked the puppy died.
But not before he looked again into her eyes.
The love between them spanned the years that they had known.
The faithful dog ensured that she would live and grow.


4 January 2009 by Glen Alan Woods