Pepsi (Poem)

Pepsi was he named by children he knew

Fitting for an eight-week pup of midnight black.

He peered at us, mischief on his mind.

Tugged at my pants, unraveled my shoes.

In Karen's arms that evening,

He slept all the way home.

Tucky's new pal he was, to fill

His lonely hours while we were gone,

Only to nip at his mouth

In his own playful way,

Flaps bloodied by razor-sharp teeth.

No mother's nip or father's scold

Just gently, Tucky moved away.

He was my friend

In his own mischievous way

He greeted me daily as I opened the door

To brighten my world after an exhausting day

Of anxious hours at an unwelcome time.

It was an October evening

The sky was clear, and dusk was near.

I drove the highway after a daylong work,

Relieved to be near our happy home.

Slowly around the corner, a glimpse of hope

Was shattered by an unexpected bump.

Sudden fear shot into my heart.

Looked in the mirror. Oh God! 'Twas He,

My midnight pup. Paws flailing in the air.

I cried, "What have I done?"

I looked in his eyes, he tried to move

To greet me one more time, or lick my face

To make all go away. But, in vain.

Helplessly I watched blood drain from his mouth,

His eyes fading slowly and gently away.

I carried him in my arms with tears in my eyes,

As the warmth of his little body drained into mine.

I placed him gently, on his side,

Deep in the ground his innocence lay, as 

The moonlight shined on him--for one last time.