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 A List of Household Objects
I have seen the magic marker you maddeningly wield, mainly for the purpose of making a maudlin media piece of our meteoric love. And every time you ink a fat line over an item of ours, I see us recategorized as you and me.  Eulogy for Merlin, the Boston Terrier
I. I saw you among many others We made a blinkless pact Calliope wanted to call you "Licky" We soon found why Your job: make life easier, not harder No accidents, all right? No picky eating, no territory marking No snuggleless nights No barking A carefree smile From that suave, sculpted jaw of yours There were many things in Return for the cheer you wore. I asked for: Loyalty Simplicity Constant, wordless obedience This and more you gladly gave. My job: love you longer, love you harder Than those before me who were blinded By rage and tempers and deserve a shiny front row seat in Hell Bring you a tidbit when I could find it Take you running, cuddle you well This and more you took, and I gladly gave. On the endless ride home I whispered so many plans to you. We did them all. It was so. II. Pinecones, road trips, extra sharp cheddar I serenaded you as often as I liked This you always liked You emerged from a broken shell Like the crab Felix said you were We learned each other well Ramses imagined your dignified accent Jonathan called you sir New counties New countries New families You greeted each with an eager grin With that silly goose mile-long pink tongue Hanging carelessly out the side of your jaw Boyfriends, best friends, frenemies and strangers You reacted to each as I did A Xerox of my feelings Easily, you were an extension of my truths I never knew whether you looked to me for how to feel Or whether in fact I saw my own true self reflected within you Sure Our harried plans were never perfect They were unexpected and so much more You've flown cross country, can your mates say the same? Where you got that wanderlust I do not know But it was sure nice to have someone who understood that about me Remember how many countless strangers used to approach us at the Montage Beach? They asked incessantly, were you my sugar pie sweet little baby boy? "No," I always said. You were my pal. III. You left my world Much as you entered it Wide eyed, panting only slightly Looking always to me for guidance and comfort Your slack jaw was shattered A million tiny pieces in my palm A blood eye A death tongue An Irish ballad, low and sweet from my lips Like that cherry muffin we loved to split when I'd sneak you into Trader Joe's Of course you're not a "service dog" For heaven's sake Anyone could tell that But you're good at that sneaky gene I taught you well Who is my prodigy now, please? Who is there to tell? No obligations. It is kind. Only a bright and blank future That I wish you will fill past the red line With Love, wherever you may pursue her Tippy top brimming with plans As we always were Ashes to the wind from my hand Long live the King of the Mer |
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