As I sat down with good intentions on catching up on my multitude of emails today, I encountered a comment from Lauri of Paperville Crafts by Lauri Ingram. Lauri had so graciously left a comment on this card:
She talked about how this was one of her favorite sets and that she had just lost her beloved Westie, Chansey. My heart went out to her. A flood of memories came pouring back from when we lost our dear, sweet Missy the Boxer. And then, I received an email from another of my friends who is facing difficult decisions with her furbaby.
I decided to put stamping aside, opting to create in another way. I hope this poem I wrote will bring solace to all who have lost a loving, faithful companion. It is a work in progress, but I had to share it with you anyway. It doesn’t have a title.
Silent footsteps echo,
Down an empty hall.
No wagging tail, no playful yip
To heed a master’s call.
Although we dearly love them
There will always come the day
When another Master summons
And our pets are called away.
But they never really leave us,
They rest safely in our hearts.
And as we think of fonder times,
We are never far apart.
For faithfully they watch us,
Standing over us they guard.
Waiting for the special day
When we meet in Heaven’s yard.
A joyful yip, a playful nip!
I couldn’t help but cry reading this as my DH and I lost our beautiful sweet furrbaby a year ago. It still brings so much heartache. Your poem is absolutely beautiful, please don’t change a thing about it!!!
Ann, what a beautiful poem. My daughter lost her cat and we were both devestated. Dakoda was a wonderful “Grandcat.” I still miss him to this day. Thank you for writing this.
So darling Ann! I love these colors and your pretty card. Happy Easter to you!
Ann, your poem is beautiful. It made my eyes well up and my heart hurt and then remember how lucky I was to have fur babies in my life almost of my life. The last dog and the last two cats who were all a huge part of my family are all gone and have been for the past 16 years. It was then that I decided never again to have a fur baby in my life ever again. It just hurts too much when they leave.
Thank you for writing that beautiful poem. Love your card too. 🙂
Mary
Ann, I’m in tears! This is so beautiful and maeks me remember my own swee,t furry angels. Thank you for sharing this. You truly have a gift with words, my friend! 🙂
Ann I believe God speaks through people and He must of today by your heartfelt words. You gave so many of us a gift with your poem’s kind words, and sweet memories. There is truly a place set aside for extra special people like you my friend.
I have a lab who is 13 years old, I know our time is running short. She is the only dog I have ever had and I can’t bear to think of life without her. Your poem is beautiful. I must be happy for all the time we have had! Michelle
If you’re not a pet lover, you don’t realize what a loss it is to a family when one passes on. It’s nice to see all the pet lovers out there, as evidenced by all the responses to your tender poem. My brother just had to put his favorite dog down, a Black Lab who was 15 years old. It was the kindest thing he could do for her in her condition. It broke my heart, too. Thank you for your healing words.
This is a beautiful tribute to all those pets who have left our lives and hearts. It brings tears to my eyes remembering the dogs we’ve lost even though it was a long time ago. Hugs to all who have lived these words at some time.
Beautiful thoughts. Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful poem, brought tears to my eyes. I fear the day I have to say goodbye to my little furbaby.
I can’t read everyone’s comments as it reminds me of my beloved Murphy too. But, you saved the day and I am adding your poem, sure hope that is o.k., to my pet sympathy card that I am mailing to my friend. I have shared some of your amazing creations with her and I know she will really like this. Is there anything you can’t do? Just kidding!
Thank you Ann for a wonderful poem.
Chris R. from Iowa
Guess poetry runs in the family! This is an amazing poem and one I am sure that many people can relate to.
I just lost my 8 yr. old Schnauzer, went from playing to wobbly to paralyzed, in less than 30 mins. X-rays, and MRI failed to show what caused it. As much as I wanted to hold on to him I knew it wasn’t the right choice, so had to make the gut wrenching decision. Thanks for your poem and card!!
Ann You are AMAZING! Your poem is beautiful and says so much. I’m saving for all the times I need kind words for friends and family in need. Thanks so much for sharing more of your creativity. I also LOVE the darling card. I’m saving that too. Hugs to you and all your readers!
Beautiful poem. It’s always a comfort to know others feel the way we do about our dogs. They aren’t pets, but they are family members. We lost 3 dogs between June ’05 and Oct ’09 and there is still a twinge of pain when we recall how we lost them. Yes, there’s great joy when we remember how they used to be. We now have 2 boxers and they are family members, of course, and give us great joy. Thanks for sharing your poem.
What a beautiful poem, Ann! I have a friend who is really struggling with the loss of her beloved dog. May I forward your poem to her? It would be very meaningful to her.
your poem is lovely. so many beloved babies to remember. still brings tears to my eyes. i will save and use this when a friend looses a loved friend. thank you for sharing your very special poem.
norma
mainelytwig.blogspot.com
Ann, you are truly amazing. Your post and poem are both beautiful and filled with love.
My Johnny has been gone 14 1/2 years and I still miss the little guy. My mother even slips sometimes and calls Harry, Johnny.
Lauri, so sorry for your loss.
Ann this is just beautifully done! Oh my… I had to wipe a tear or two. It is so touching and meaningful to all who have or have had a pet. Hugs.
a beautiful poem; we’re having to make medical decisions w/our 14 y.o. husky & I don’t like it, but we have no choice; TFS from everyone that has a furry loved one at home
Your creativity touched many hearts. You said it all! I have had service dogs for 20 years and there is no closer bond than that. I was told as a child that animals have no soul and will not go to heaven, but you just need to share a life with one to know that isn’t so. We will see our furfriends again. Thank you for your loving words. Pastor Lorie Betz
I would say that your time away from stamping to write a poem was time well spent. Thanks for sharing.
OK, wiping the tears off my keyboard at work!! Such a great poem. Had to put my Big Fur Baby (Mitzi – Old English Sheepdog)down just over two years ago and I still miss her every day.
Thank you dear friend.
Woof, woof – kisses and tail wags!
What a beautiful poem Ann. Thank you for sharing.
OH, Ann. My eyes are filled with tears, having read your beautiful poem. I lost my cat, Smoat, more than a year ago. He was so loved. I think of him and talk to him often.
Thank you for sharing this.
Anne, thanks for sharing your poem. I was crying as I read it. Our Fur babies are so special to us. I have two, one is 14 and the other is 11.
Beautiful!!
Anne, your poem is wonderful. It would be perfect on a scrapbook page tribute to a furry baby no longer with us. Thanks for sharing!
Oh Anne, how beautiful. I teared up reading it. Most of us have lost a furry companion and this is such a wonderful way to honor them. I want to retype and frame it. Thank you so much.
Dear Ann,
Your poem really touched my heart. I still miss my two most favorite pets who passed 3 years ago. Although the pain is mostly gone, I remember them daily. I have their pictures on my wall close to my computer desk so I can see them and smile. You are so talented to compose such a beautiful, loving poem. My heart breaks for Lauri’s loss and those going through such pain and sorrow. Thank you for sharing with us. God has gifted you with many talents and you use them in such an honorable way. You are a true blessing!
Just beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to compose this and to share it with all of us.
This is beautiful Ann! I have never lost a fur-baby (haven’t owned one yet), but I was heart broken when my hubby (who was just my boyfriend at the time – LONG ago!) lost his poodle and when my sister lost her fur-babies. You are such a wonderful, kind, thoughtful person for reaching out to everyone like this. Thank you.
Beautifully said Ann ~ thanks for sharing!
Our furry companions definitely become family and their loss is felt just as deeply. This is a beautiful poem! Thank you for sharing!!
A very beautiful poem Ann. Like all the others, this brought tears to my eyes. We lost our “Polly” last year, and I still visit her grave everyday! To some that may be extreme, but as my husband tells me, if it makes you feel better, its ok.
Of course I am in tears. Thanks for the poem. Such a beautiful poem.
Ann: You are a woman of many talents! Although I don’t have a furry pet, your poem touched my heart. Thank you!
Wonderful poem, Ann! And, yes, it made me cry, too! It is very hard to lose one of your fur babies.
Ann,
From all of us who still miss our furbabies that have passed, Thank You!
Ann, this is so beautful and I read it with tears thinking of all my beloved furbabies I have lost over the years. You have a wonderful way with words. I am sending this to a very dear friend who recently lost her 14 year old Golden. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Beautiful poem!
Here’s something from a story about why our pets don’t live as long as humans:
”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The Six-year-old continued,
”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
Oh Ann. My niece, many miles away, just lost her beloved Bronte’ yesterday morning – she was 14 years old. She recently survived a vicious attack by a larger dog (saved by my young great-nephew) and then some other old age diseases came upon her. I’ve been down and crying since I found out and right before I read this I was thinking how my poor niece had to wake up without her furbaby this morning. Too much to bear really. Thanks for the beautiful poem – I sent her the link. You are so very talented.
Beautiful poem, Ann – it totally made me cry! I love my kitty furbabies as much as you love dogs. They are so important in our lives!!! Big hugs!
oh Ann, this is beautiful! I was sad when I read your note about your beloved Missy, and I struggle to make sense of this huge hole in my heart. This is a wonderful poem…I sm typing this through tears as I remember all the love Chansey gave Vicky and I (and we loved him back). To all of those with fur babies, here and gone, we know how much they love us, and we love them…thank you for your friendship!
Oh, Ann! This is beautiful and I’m bawling right now… My heart was breaking for Lauri’s loss as well and I think this is a beautiful tribute to all of our furbabies who have gone on before us.
Such a lovely poem and I’m going to bookmark this for the future. You have a gift with words, my friend.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem.
Thank you so much for sharing this special poem Ann! Our Furr-babies are just that, our babies. You did a fabulous job creating this poem! 🙂
What lovely and beautiful words about our beloved furbabies. (wiping tears now)
Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful Ann. Your poem brought a tear to my eye as remembered the furry friends that I have lost over the years. Fur-ever they are in our hearts