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Empty pillow next to mine, cold, forlorn and bare,
Sleepy arms reach out for you, but oh, you are not there.
Heart-fingers race to garden, gravelled earth so cold and black,
Shocked horror, disbelief awakes, you’re never coming back.
How can I leave you lying there, my love, my furry friend,
My best beloved Tuppence, my heart will never mend.
“If only...” are the saddest words, turn back the clock, rewind,
I didn’t want just one more day, but years and years to find
The special love and joy we had, the fun and trust to share,
We’d barely time to say goodbye, my Tuppence teddy-bear.
But oh, you will have snowdrops there to break cold winter’s grasp,
Bright daffodils to greet spring’s sun, tall tulips showy mast,
Red roses for remembrance when summer sun shines high,
Soft petals fall to cover you and I will let them lie
Till the earth quails with frost again, as when I laid you down,
Then there will bloom a Christmas rose, spare winter’s luminous crown.
From the shores of Loch Ness we’ll seek smooth rocks of pink and varied hue
A cairn we’ll build for our little prince, to protect and honour you.
And we shall be your guardsmen, Tess, Cracker and wee Jake
And I, chief mourner, I’ll think of you, and oh, my heart will break.
The Rainbow Bridge , a touching thought, a tender loving dream,
To meet again a fragile hope in this godless warring scheme.
If bones and dust are all that’s left when living souls depart,
Then know as long as I can breathe you live here in my heart.
But if I’m wrong, and as some claim, there is another side
And you will hear me coming, and scamper to me with pride,
Then through the years and spheres of time my heart will burst with joy,
You’ll jump into my arms again, my precious furry boy.
We’ll share a hundred kisses, wriggles, licks and barks and smiles
And we’ll walk together, my best beloved, for endless happy miles.
I must believe, I will believe, the Rainbow Bridge is there
The lonely cold alternative is just too hard to bear.
You came for three weeks holiday
while your Mama sought the sun,
I was smitten with you right away,
Sweet natured, full of fun.
Tess seemed pleased with another wee pal,
Cracker too, so there was no bother.
You'd lived with Cracker all your life,
Your older smart half-brother.
What a time we had, the three of us,
In the fields you'd all run free,
Chasing and dancing, enjoying yourselves.
What a lovely sight to see!
So we told your Mam we loved you,
and how happy you seemed to be,
She agreed that you could live with us.
What a lovely family!
Quieter Cracker stayed by my side
but you were off at a run,
Trotting ahead, sniffing far and wide,
So busy, having such fun.
Cracker would stay on the path
and always sidestep a puddle,
But not you. Bushes, wet grass,mud,
How you loved a dirty guddle!
But you weren't so keen on being washed
and brushing was a chore,
Your thick fur coat all tangled in knots,
You found it such a bore.
You loved your grub and all your treats,
and put on a little weight,
My little furball, my chieftain tank,
The blame was mine to take.
We all trooped to the groomers
I said clip the sides and back,
He's not a show dog anymore
And his white fur gets so black.
You trotted out proudly showing off
And I could only stare.
Your butterfly ears had disappeared,
And you looked like a teddy bear!
All your beautiful fringing had been cut off,
You looked like a scoop of ice-cream!
a perfectly round, smooth butterball,
Tuppence, a teddy bear's dream!
And so, Geanzger Avon Prince,
A show ring papillon
Became my Tuppy Teddy Bear,
My sweetheart from then on.
I wondered how you'd all react
Tuppence, you were his special pal
He'd hang from your tail and jump on your back
He'd come to bed and bounce around
Well, he was a real little scallywag,
We had good times, the five of us
Then your beautiful fur began to fall out
You had to put up with being neutered, poor boy,
But it didn’t improve and after some bloods
You had few of the symptoms I read all about
You were quieter and fatter and not quite yourself
But I thought that with treatment you’d be good as new
How sick you became, it was hard to believe,
When the vet said, it’s time, I’ll never forget
We miss you so sorely, the four of us left,
An old soul gazed at me through your liquid brown eyes
So we'll try to enjoy all our days once again
There's a space in my heart that will always be TuppenceWee Jakie came for a holiday
Just as you'd done before
He was only 3 months old back then
A wee scrap of silky fur.
Though all my fears were groundless
You three were very good with him
Though his energy was boundless.
You patiently helped him to play
Though Jakie nipped your legs and ears
He was never turned away.
but your tolerance never wore thin
Cracker would grump and wander away
but you were a real friend to him.
When we were all bone tired
You on your pillow, Cracker at my feet,
and Jakie adrenalin fired.
But of course completely adored,
Another wee pap who never went home,
The family of three dogs now four!
In fields, river banks and woods
Tessie would herd all her little white sheep
Just like a good collie should.
Some said it was stress with the puppy
But I knew better, there was something wrong
With my best beloved Tuppy.
Although you hated the vet
I prayed that would fix whatever was wrong
With my gorgeous little pet.
Probable Cushings was suggested
A nasty, complicated, life-long disease
With ever more bits needing tested.
So the tests were postponed for a time
I joined in the forums and studied the treatments
If they worked it seemed you’d be fine.
But nothing exceptionally bad
Jake missed all your capers, the mischief and fun,
And I missed my lively wee lad.
More tests and we’d soon get you well
How could i know that a great yawning pit
Was opening to take us to hell
My darling, you went down so fast,
I still couldn’t face that it might be the end,
Your wee life was just not going to last.
How I held you so tight in my arms.
If love could have saved you you’d be here today
Lying with me so safe and still warm.
Each one in our own special way.
We’re drifting along almost drowning in grief
Trudging through each weary day.
Loving kindness and patience pesonified
you wouldn't want us so sad for so long
mourning our love who'd just died.
And honour your memory
By laughing and loving and living our lives
Hoping now you are happy and free.
A special room filled with your love
Now and then I'll peek in and whisper your name,
Prince of Avon, my best beloved.
PAGE THREE
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