For Duke
Poppy's Number Eight
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For My Duke
With aging hands, the old woman worked painstakingly with each fold.
Along with her patience, came a flood of memories for her to hold.
She hadn't always had patience with him as a pup, though, she'd admit.
He was big, boisterous, unruly, clumsy, and didn't like the cage one bit.
What he did love was food, chasing sticks, and protecting that old person.
The closer people came to her, his lips would snarl, his bark would worsen.
He did his job so well and stayed by her side, but now it didn't seem fair.
The two had to part ways on this earth and no longer were that pair.
As she finished up the origami she now held in her frail palm,
It was her wish to sprinkle sugar on the paper, a magical sort of balm.
Maybe if she did just that, he would come back to life, fly back to her?
Oh, what she wouldn't give to once again touch his coarse, black fur!
About the Creator
Shirley Belk
Mother, Nana, Sister, Cousin, & Aunt who recently retired. RN (Nursing Instructor) who loves to write stories to heal herself and reflect on all the silver linings she has been blessed with :)
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Off the Book
It ended like every other stupid idea. Badly, and alone. I’m researching digital confession ethics, he said. A tech ethicist. He gestured at floating data I couldn’t see then pulled out a physical notebook. Actual paper, fountain pen. He held it up like he was showing me scripture.
By Nicky Frankly6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (23)
I just featured your beautiful piece in https://todaysurvey.shop/writers/angie-s-artefacts-it-s-springtime%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 🤩
Sending more love to you.....
This is so heartbreaking😫I won't be able to cope when this happens to mine. Hope you're okay💞
What a gorgeous tribute! Sorry 4 the loss of Duke!
I didn’t see a link to this in Poppy’s August Prompts & it’s so gorgeous I don’t want others to miss it.🥹
This is such a gorgeously clever poem for Poppy’s prompts… a fitting tribute to Duke!💖.
Beautiful poem.
What an imaginative, wonderful poem. Congratulations on the honorable Mention win for it!
Love the origami art.
Such a beautiful tribute! So tenderly done.
Loving Duke as a dog or origami!
This poem is so emotional, and dogs are one of the best companions for humans.
I really love your content and how it's crafted , I love it and happily subscribed , you can check out my content and subscribe to me also , thanks for this beautiful one
Welcome back! Touching, Shirley. Always sad losing a pet.
I lost a few dogs over the years some were killed by car accidents and one was actually punched by a roommate that I was about to hurt if someone didn't step in. I had a dog I adopted that I took everywhere and I mean everywhere she went to school with me and I used to take to radio station when I worked nights. She was was my very best friend and I never thought I get over losing her. But I always found a spot in my heart for new love besides the crazy animals I have now and the ones I have lost in the past. I would never trade the chance of trying to find out what it be like if I didn't have lily,smitty,komoe, Oscar, chilly and Sammy those are just my cats my dogs were rusty, George, Chloe, stinker, Holly,Angie, Isis , Hazel , Brutus, and Holly had eight puppies I only kept stinker and now Brutus lives in Connecticut I live currently in Baltimore with Andy and Freckles but we are moving to Hot Springs Arkansas for my new job. But we are looking forward for a bunch years together either in Arkansas or wherever the world points us.
My cat passed away 3 years ago and this made me think a lot of him. There's still not a day that goes by that I never think of him. I wish our pets would live as long as us. Loved your poem 🥺❤️
❤❤ such a lovely poem! I have 3 pups and a cat and I love them so much!
This is such a wonderful Ode, Shirley. It's always hard to lose a pet, but they do live in our memories and hopefully have fun wherever they go after.
Daaaahlink - This is so lovely—When I lost my last Corgi I just could never get another pet; my heart just wouldn’t allow it..! Btw: When I left the hospital they gave me a glad your leaving party—Cake 🍰 and all ! Your kindness has been very appreciated..! J-bud
It's hard losing a fur baby my dogs are my children and I spend all my time with them I don't know what I do with out my crazy yellow Labrador or my little English springer she so sweet and special because she can't hear so she never realizes how loud she gets.
Such a sweet, sad, and deeply feeling piece. Thanks for sharing this lovely poem.
Awww she misses her pup! 💔
This is lovely and very sad, Shirley. It’s like losing a friend.