The Final Curtain Call

Darkness has descended upon a world once light,

Where the pitter patter of gentle paws touched our hearts,

Now tears and cracks bleed in a ball of pain,

Leaving a hole that can never be filled.

**

Over a decade ago you wandered through our door,

Where you left your prints upon your person,

You wrapped him around your paw and loved him right,

Bringing him through his darkest days and longest nights.

**

You healed his lost soul, befriended his demons,

And over the next decade you healed his darkness, opened his heart,

Standing by his side, gifting him with your undying loyalty,

He in turn became your entire world.

**

In the meantime, I stood in his shadow, his understudy,

There to be his back up, his supporting lady, in times of need,

Your spare human — always ready at your beck and call,

Honoured to share in the heart bond of you both.

**

But time doesn’t stand still for anyone or anything,

And it was suddenly time for you to grow your wings,

You courageously held on until old age ravished your body,

Until he held you to the light, gifting you with a gentle goodbye.

**

He stayed with you until the end, watching you cross the veil,

Where we know you have gained your freedom, your ability to run once again,

While we carry the burden of that fateful goodbye in shattered hearts,

Weeping through the unbidden silence, in solitude of crippling pain.

**

You gave us so much through choosing us as your forever home,

An angel long before you grew your wings,

Please watch over us until it’s time to meet again,

And help us find the strength to carry us through these dark and lonely days without you.

**

Rest in peace darling Peach,

I hope you’ll visit us often in our dreams,

Let Dad hear your gentle purr as he slips off to sleep each night,

Healing our broken hearts one sign at a time.

**

Never doubt baby boy, how much you were loved,

Your big personality will never be forgotten,

The world may be dark and way too quiet right now,

But one day we’ll smile through our tears as we hold tight to all our memories.

**

Rest now little one,

Until we meet again,

Peach, you live in two hearts that you changed for the better,

And you honoured us greatly when you chose us as your final port in the storm,

Your love lives on.