Ollyver, My Beloved
"i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go . . . "
ee Cummings
No human ever touched me so wonderfully
as did a soul by the name of Ollyver.
I adopted Ollyver when he was only one year old.
Not too fond of males (perhaps abused by them),
he immediately took to me as I snuggled him on the drive home.
In time I discovered he was not too fond of anyone at all -
other than me! Ollyver was a white miniature Eskimo dog.
Ollyver followed me everywhere.
Knowing instinctively when I would be home from work,
he waited by the door and then leaped up into my arms
the minute I walked in.
In the night, he would curl up next to me.
He did not like my husband’s presence on the bed,
but he learned to adjust despite their mutual dislike for each other!
One day, for reasons I won’t mention, I was separated from my beloved dog.
Many tears I cried over him, for I had experienced from him
an unconditional love that perhaps no human had ever shown me.
I knew he was somewhere in my city, but he was at least ten years old
and I guessed he would die in a few years.
A few years passed, and one night, I believe my beloved dog
visited me on his way out of this earthly realm,
for I awoke to see him standing on my bed.
My heart filled with joy as I saw him there.
He jumped over my husband’s sleeping body
and into my arms. I buried my face in his soft white fur.
The event was so real to me, yet I fell back into a dream
in which I wandered the streets with Ollyver.
Never have I had such a spiritual experience
(not even with my own family) as what I had
with this little dog
whom I like to believe returned to me
that night of my splendid dream.
How could a mere animal have been
of such relevance to me in my life?
I know only this. . . I was loved completely by Ollyver,
and for that reason,
I carry his heart with me.
For the 'Beloved Pets' Poetry Contest
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