A Dog Lives Here

I wrote this on a long plane ride yesterday. I was a bit in my feelings:

New crate, puppy food, and toys Excitement for anticipated joys I can’t wait until A dog lives here

I pick her up and she licks my face I take her home to our new place I tell her shes a good girl and now A dog lives here

Potty training and teething Watching her sleep making sure she’s breathing My heart’s way of saying A dog lives here

Tug a war that I pretend to lose Chewed socks and shoes It’s becoming more evident A dog lives here

Hair on clothes and floors Scratch marks on all my doors Life has changed because A dog lives here

Her eyes see through my mood and bad day She simply gets a toy and wants to play I begin to learn unconditional love because A dog lives here

Shared sofas and bed Begging for food like she’s never been fed When guests come over it’s obvious A dog lives here

Years pass as time flies She’s suddenly older than I realize I’m preparing for a day when I can’t say A dog lives here

The day comes when I say goodbye I tell her a final “Good Girl” with a tear in my eye I return to an empty house thinking A dog lived here

After mourning I remember and reminisce Who thought her snoring is something I’d miss The deafening silence reminds me A dog lived here

I begin to heal and realize there’s a part Where she will always occupy in my heart It’s comforting to know A dog lives here

Then a lost pup comes along and claims me New crate, puppy food, and toys New memories honor old ones because A dog lives here