My center of gravity has left.
How comfortable I’ve been,
eyes closed for so long.
Orbiting, steadied
by my little friend.
Now gone.

Loose hands and passing glances
no longer fall upon your head.
Instead I stare into empty space
to remember the love I once had
so ancient, it turned invisible
universally known, like Abuwtiyuw,
whose name outlived his pharaoh.
His tail, like yours, wags to infinity.
The Zeroth Wonder of the World
buried in sands, not of time,
but those of self-evidence.

Locked in place like wandering stars
Invisible gears need no name.
We brought you home, knowing
your life and love would outweigh death.
And nonetheless, alone, we drift.
‘Til we regain some semblance of peace.
With a nauseous wobble as we spot
Your collar on the kitchen sink,
Or remember paws that danced for snacks.
A precession, a signature, a memory.
Imprinted upon us, by you.

For a beloved companion, whose absence still shapes the orbit of those who knew him.

Cover Image
Ancient Egyptian wall art of a dog (Khaemweset’s Tomb ~1200BCE)