Remember when I found you?
You were so young and so timid
As I trained you,
you somehow negotiated
and let me know you’d be good but needed some leeway
Always trying to please
Always here for me
You were my best friend
For over 14 years
I told you all my secrets,
tried to make you happy
We were a good team that couldn’t be broken
Remember the old woman
who wanted to look in your eyes
because you reminded her lovingly of her adored deceased husband?
She said your eyes were so kind
She was right about your eyes and about you
To the park to play,
Walking in the neighborhood,
a toy to retrieve or hide and seek
Whatever we did together was always fun
I would never return with you to friends’ homes who didn’t welcome you
I loved you more than life itself
You got me through some rough times
when I didn’t even want to be on this earth, except for you
You always danced when I came home, always happy to see me,
no matter how long or short I had been gone
Your body gave up and you were so frustrated
I had never seen that before in you
Your new lifestyle was hard for you
Your legs didn’t work anymore and your strength was gone
It was time to say good-bye
Spooning with you, singing to you and whispering in your ear
for your last hours on earth
I saw Jesus pick you up in His arms
and take you to heaven’s doors and set you down inside
You ran off to find loved ones, to romp and play
You were a joy and a treasure
You will always be a part of me, precious Bruno