senryu 04/02/11

i call out your name
hoping you'll somehow hear me
even though you're gone

©2011-Art Belliveau

numb 3/24/11

the part that hurts most
oddly enough
is not that you left
is not that you walked away
from all we had together

the part that hurts most
is that slowly
day by day
i am becoming accustomed
to your absence

the numbness hurts more
than any pain

©2011-Art Belliveau

unsent letters 3/23/11

i am writing letters
that I know i will never send
sharing the frustrations
and triumphs
that each day brings
telling you how i feel
asking questions

but i cannot send these to you
and they pile up
and one day
who knows when
they will be gone
like you

©2011-Art Belliveau

You Were Such a Good Dog

You were such a good dog,
And now that you are gone,
It seems just way too quiet
As I sit here, all alone.

No one to play tug of war,
Or catch the ball I throw.
No one keep me warm at night,
When the outside's white with snow.

No one to go exploring with,
Every night till seven.
I really sure do miss you now,
That you're in Doggy Heaven.

I know that you are happy there,
Young again and strong.
Playing with the angels,
Never doing wrong.

You go have fun with the angel dogs,
I'll see you there, till then--
I know that you will wait for me,
And one day we'll play again.


©2010-Art Belliveau

Requiem for Bailey

laying down on your side
panting slightly
shivering a bit with pain and cold
your once bright eyes now dull
your onetime boundless energy
all but depleted
bathed in my tears
the feel of my hand caressing your side
you go into that final sleep

my heart breaking
as your heart sills

©2010-Art Belliveau

Elegy for Bonnie

Elegy for Bonnie

soft, sad beagle eyes
staring at me
just watching
tail wagging as I near
head popping up, alert
wanting me to pay attention
coming to me as I sit
putting her head beneath my hand
willing me to get the idea
and start scratching

eating furtively, timidly
stopping if I get too close
wanting reassurance it’s okay to eat more
each encouragement lasting for just one bite
then looking up again
as if for permission
onece again

wanting out
needing out
dancing with impatience
in front of me
as much as saying, “Pay attention!”
relief streaming from her
as I let her into the backyard

wanting in
so grateful when I open the door
tail wagging, whole back end wagging
head down, grinning, sneezing and snuffling
taking care when crossing the door
afraid her former human will hurt her again
relived that I am here instead

rolling on her back
exposing her stomach
waiting to be scratched
trusting and loving

still living in memory
still alive in my heart


©2009-Art Belliveau

and he held it in the palm of his hand

and he held it in the palm of his hand
scared
excited
thrilled
nervous
knowing it wasn’t really his
knowing it could so easily disappear
again
and it started to
it began to float away

panicking
he squeezed his bearlike hand shut
trapping in it
the broken pieces
that could never
be remade

©2009-Art Belliveau