Shadow

Amazing what gets dredged up in the memories. The pup’s name was shadow

outside the drawn floral curtains
in the scary dark night
a door closed

over and over
muffled whispers
of dad’s voice talking to
uncle phil

followed by sounds of
spades digging
in ground hardened by frost
striking on flint
grating on my mind
over and over

sharp stones in an untamed
garden in the cold of
winter

the dog had been sick
our fluffy black and white pup
my ears strained
what were they doing

and then
the penny registered
in my eight year old brain
dropping like a dead weight
hurting my heart

with horror
i listened to that scraping
and bedding down of soil
when i was unable to
shed a single tear

hiding
under the counterpane
trembling
like a small leaf buried
under a mountain of sadness

Reviews

[Victor D. Lopez]

Chris, you have a truly remarkable ability to elicit strong emotions from your wonderfully descriptive poems. I am definitely a fan. I've been away from this site for some time as life just gets in the way. Even suspecting what was coming in this poem with the untimely scraping of spade on frost-hardened ground, I still felt the pain of a young girl's sorrow, the intrusion of a harsh reality into the blissful innocence of youth. There is painful poignancy and pathos, especially in the following stanzas:

and then
the penny registered
in my eight year old brain
dropping like a dead weight
hurting my heart

with horror
i listened to that scraping
and bedding down of soil
when i was unable to
shed a single tear

hiding
under the counterpane
trembling
like a small leaf buried
under a mountain of sadness

Really powerful. I missed reading your work!

[W. Barrett Munn]

The emotion is wrung from your words and forces us to experience the emptiness of that haunting experience.
Really well done.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Winston. Apologies for my late response. All good wishes.

Chris

[MrBlack202]

The poem shows a child's experience of death, and her innocents know nothing. Lossing a pet is a painful experience.

[Chris Shaw]

You are so right. I never forgot the pain of losing that puppy. All good wishes and thank you for stopping by.

Chris

[Michael Sun Bear]

Ah Chris, the poem is beautifully written and I feel such sorrow for your loss. Your words did not exactly drop like a dead weight but they certainly hurt my heart. I know all too well the pain of losing a childhood pet, a pet at any age for that matter. I have found the pain will not leave, even when offered in words to others.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you again Michael, for another visit. Yes the pain of losing a pet lingers a long time. Didn’t get another dog for decades. We have Solo now and she is an old lady (blue staffy). Will never forget the upset of losing that pup. So loved. Our pets are so much a part of our family and Solo loves me unconditionally.

Chris

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This is a brilliant write and it was immensely moving. Great poetry and it was my great pleasure to read it. Highest rating I can offer other than my personal praise. F.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fabian for your encouragement. Very much appreciated. Never forgotten that little pup. Didn’t get another dog for fifty years.

Chris

Chris

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful. Such sadness. You covey it well.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Thomas. Thanks for stopping by.

Chris

[The dark Hydra]

we get it your life sucks, please tell me more..or don't my eyes are bleeding from reading crap all day

[Chris Shaw]

Do me a favour, don’t call again.

[Relic]

Wow! This is so sad. I can feel the horror of it. I had a dog that was hit by a car in front of me when I was little. I can relate. Great emotional piece, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

So sad when we lose our pets. This has stayed with me a long time. That must have been an awful experience for you. Many thanks for stopping by. Hope all is good with you.

Chris

[DIVYA]

You have written the grief so powerfully here. The sounds of the burial, the realization of an 8 year old mind come through beautifully. This is such a relatable poem on the death of a much loved pet.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much DIVYA and for relating to my words. The loss of a pet is devastating regardless of age. They are family. Have a good weekend.

Chris

[DIVYA]

Yes, they're family! I love my kitties. I totally get the feeling you shared.

You're most welcome, dear Chris.
Lovely weekend to you too. 🌹

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Chris 🌿

For sharing this … it returned me to my first pet, a sweet little Welsh Corgi stray I named "Lady". We went everywhere together.
A few things this poem proves (besides that you're a brilliant poetess) is how deeply Shadow became a part of a young girl's gentle heart, and of your long ago lasting happy and sad memories … I can still close my eyes and remember Lady as though she were here with me now.

Parts of us never seem to grow-up, and some things we never get over.
Blessings! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Richard, thank you so much for your review of Shadow and for sharing your story about Lady. Yes, those losses are difficult to forget. They pop up every now and again. I am touched by your kindness and pleased you stopped by. Hope all is good in your world.

Chris

[Richard🖌]

Chris,
Your words have always inspired mine.
You are more than welcome ⁓ happy days to thee.