Elegy for the Dane
The evening draws in, driving home the tendrils of
darkness
Clutch at the car
The leaves fall weeping from the trees and winter whispers
With icy breath
I smile to think of summer and you dance in memory
One more time
Once again we climb the mountains and hot and thirsty
You lie in streams
You and I laugh together as you rush greet me home from work
Pink teddy in your mouth
Walking the shore of the vlei in the evening Topaz catches sticks
You swim behind
I get drenched as you shake yourself dry and then plunge in again
Water people, you and I
The summer sun shines hot on your burnished copper coat as you run and
Pursued birds fly
Long days of companionship and laughter, you talk to me endlessly
A dog’s vocabulary understood
Now you’re gone – and far too suddenly your life is at an end
I miss you, my friend
But as the season changes, it’s time for us both to move along
I’ve addressed the wrong
Now I hear you on the winter wind, you need to leave
Your new journey calls
I lift my hand to my mouth; blow you a kiss to set your soul free
Next time we meet – remember me.
