Remembering Dolly

When tomorrow starts without me

And I’m not there to see,

The sun will rise and find your eyes,

All filled with tears for me.

I wish so much you wouldn’t cry

The way you did today

Remembering how I’d lay my head

In your lap that special way.

I know how much you love me

As much as I love you

And each time that you think of me,

I know you’ll miss me too

But when tomorrow starts without me

Please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name

And petted me with her hand

She said my place was ready

In Heaven far above

And that I’d have to leave behind

All those I dearly love

But, as I turned to heel away

A tear fell from my eye

For all my life I never thought

That I would have to die.

I had so much to live for

So many sits and downs to do

It seemed almost impossible

That I was leaving you.

I thought about our lives together,

I know you must be sad,

I thought of all the love we shared

And all the fun we had.

Remember how I’d nudge your hand,

And poke you with my nose

The Frisbee I would gladly chase,

The bad guy, I’d “bark and hold”.

If I could relive yesterday

Just even for a while,

I’d wag my tail and kiss you,

Just so I could see you smile

But, then I fully realized,

That this could never be;

For emptiness and memories,

Will take the place of me

And when I thought of treats and toys

I might miss come tomorrow,

I thought of you and when I did

My dog-heart filled with sorrow

I’ve entered into eternity,

And how it welcomes you,

Today my life on earth is past,

But here it starts anew

I promise no tomorrow

But today will always last;

For you see, each day’s the same day

There’s no longing for the past

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don’t think we’re far apart

For every time you think of me,

I’m right there, in your heart.

He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds;

my other ears that hear above the winds.

He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea.

He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason

for being by the way he rests against my leg;

by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile;

by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him.

(I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not

along to care for me.)

When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.

When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile.

When I am happy, he is joy unbounded.

When I am a fool, he ignores it.

When I succeed, he brags.

Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful.

He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion.

With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace.

He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant.

His head on my knee can heal my human hurts.

His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and

unknown things.

He has promised to wait for me...whenever...wherever--

in case I need him.

And I expect I will--as I always have

The Rainbow Bridge

inspired by a Norse legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They run through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together. xxx

My little bully passed away, no more to breathe a sound.

I held him for the last time, then entombed him in the ground.

Day and night I wept so much, in tears I thought I'd drown.

I searched my soul for comfort, but no peace therein was found.

In great despair, I hit my knees and then began to pray.

"Father will I ever see, my dog again someday?"

I raised my eyes and saw an angel standing near a gate.

I sensed an inner peace I'd never felt before that day.

The angel smiled and said to me, "Oh man of little faith!

God sees every bird that falls; He knows your bully's fate.

I have met your little dog, I saw him pass my way.

Your precious dog is still alive; he just walked through this gate.

Paradise is lovelier than you can comprehend.

No pain or grief, no tears or fears, and life will have no end.

God gave to man His only Son, to cover all his sins.

So why would God withhold from you, your pure and loving friend?”

The angel took me by the hand and said, "Now come with me.

A glimpse of paradise I'll give, to you so you can see."

Through the gate and o'er the Rainbow Bridge we did proceed.

Through green valleys filled with flowers, rolling hills and trees.

“Wow, so this is paradise!” The place was filled with joy.

I saw my bully playing there, with dogs and cats and toys.

He also had some doggie treats, and food that he enjoyed.

He'd made a lot of new friends there, including girls and boys.

Then I saw a child come near, and hug my little mate.

She said to him, "I love you so," and kissed him on the face.

The angel said, "The child just crossed the Rainbow Bridge today.

Now she needs a little friend, to love and help her play.

God’s love for her would be enough, in that make no mistake.

But in His love, He knew full well, the child would want a mate.

This is why God called your dog unto this splendid place.

God’s entrusted her with him, ‘til you pass through the gate."

I pleaded, “May I hug them both?!” The angel answered, “No!

You’d violate a sacred site, and now it’s time to go.”

He led me back across the Bridge and through the gate to home.

He left me there with new-found hope and peace within my soul.

If someone ever asks what happens to a dog that dies,

Just give a gentle smile of joy and look them in the eye.

Take their hand and comfort them and tell them not to cry.

For dogs don’t die, they simply cross a bridge to paradise.

Always remembered  :