Walking the Hedge

Death came by last night

The pup wasn’t thriving, he was barley eating

Puggy Sue kept pushing him away from her other babes

She looked at me with sad, calm eyes

We did the best we could, we tried everything

But the wee pup wasn’t thriving, he wasn’t growing

Finally, I went to bed

I woke in the dead of the night and went to Puggy Sue

The pup wasn’t thriving; he was barley alive

Puggy Sue had pushed him a way and buried him in a blanket

I wrapped him more gently and tucked him in the corner of the pen

Puggy Sue looked at me with sad, calm eyes

I went back to bed

I did not light a candle

I left the whiskey in the bottle on the counter

I did not fill the bowl

I did not leave an offering for Death

For gratitude for mercy, to appease, to beg to leave

I went to bed

I did not bribe the ferryman

I was so very tired; it was so very late at night

I woke with the sun and buried the babe

Then went to the kitchen for a cup of tea

My mother had… Continue reading →