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                      The Last Gift

  I still can hear your puppy paws and your yelps of happiness 

  as you bounded down the hall to greet me with a kiss. 

  I taught you how to “sit” and “stay” and all the tricks you’d do. 

  I think of how we’d romp and play. I had such fun with you. 

  But time has changed your boisterous stride to a slow deliberate tread. 

  Now you walk contently by my side instead of bounding up ahead. 

  Your ragged coat and troubled eyes show you’re near the end; 

  but it hurts so much to say good-bye to such a special friend. 

  Now pain fills every day you live, though I agonize and pray.  

  This last gift I must now give: To let you gently pass away.

  They say that I will love again, that I’ll find another pet.

  But they do not understand the pain the heart cannot forget. 

  Your love was unconditional. Your loyalty was true. 

  You are completely irreplaceable. I’ll never find another you. 

  I hear you heave a ragged sigh. I know this is the end 

  and so I must say my last good-bye to my loyal loving friend. 

  In Heaven, youth will be restored, so I’ll try not to cry. 

  For I know you’re living with the Lord in His Kingdom in the sky. 

  And when I get to Heaven’s gate, come meet me with your ball, 

  for if we don’t meet again in Heaven, it won’t be Paradise at all.

  I remember as a kitten you were a bounching ball of fur 

  that came to rub against my legs and greet me with a purr. 

  I think of how you'd crouch and hide, like a tiger in the grass, 

  waiting to pounce upon your prey or any ankle that may pass. 

  You found delight in chasing moths and thought reflected light was fun,

  but lately you've been more content to lie sleeping in the sun.

  Your ragged coat and troubled eyes show you're near the end, 

  but it hurts so much to say good-bye to such a special friend.

  Now pain fills every day you live, though I aganize and pray. 

  This last gift I must now give: To let you gently pass away.

 They say that I will love again, that I'll find another pet, 

 but they do not understand the pain the heart cannot forget.

 Your love was unconditional, your loyalty was true, 

 you are completely irreplaceable, I'll never find another you.

 I hear you heave a ragged sigh. I know this is the end, 

 and so I say my last good-bye to my loyal, loving friend.
 In Heaven, youth will be restored, so I’ll try not to cry, 

 for I know you're living with the Lord in His Kingdom in the sky.
 And when I get to Heaven’s Gate come pounce upon my feet, 

 for I’ll know that I’m in Paradise when once again we meet.

Both poems were written by Dr. Julia B. Esposito on the loss of her pets. 

        We hope you find them comforting in your time of loss.