Maggie left on Friday

That last morning,
so alert, so soft, warm
and blue-eyed smiley.
Her grey and white so clean and freshly cut

I chose that eve of Halloween
to be her last.
With rain and bluster,

the sky readied to blow her
to another place

Upon a small rug she slept,
not hurting, snoring ever so slightly
The next needle would erase her from
that place and us

We could not watch death take her,
it would hurt too much,
to hear her last breath push out to join
the common air

The gentle teacher of dog-wary kids,
allowing them to walk her befriended,
She was the only sister Maddy ever knew.

Her curse was a Portland world
filled with steps and old tint stair treads
and slippery floors.
All  unkind to old hips and eyes

I miss you sweet Maggie-dog.
and will search for peace of mind,
Striving to somehow work off my penance.