John-Ward Leighton

MURPHY

John-Ward Leighton: Murphy
Murphy: Photograph by Johnny de JesusAn old friend phoned
to talk about the fight
his voice was breaking
and I knew that things weren’t
right.
He then told me of the passing
of Murphy in the night.
Now Murphy was his dog
who fought the valiant fight
against the cancer in his leg
that soon was spreading
to his lungs.
He stood in that mid night hall
coughing his last
and my friend Johnny had to make
that call
for the vet
to help old Murphy pass.
What is there in us
to love our pets
better than we love ourselves?
What places the heavy stone of grief
upon our souls when they pass?
Perhaps it’s for the love they so freely gave
it’s been that way since our life in the cave,
the wagging tail, the boisterous
simple happy joy of merely seeing us
and the quick licks
that endless game of fun
that turns into hard learned tricks.
Murphy knew the way to our hearts.
No more early morning walks
no more early morning talks
no more chats that end in pats.
It’s a sad and heavy day
cause Johnny and Luanne’s
Murphy dog
has passed away.