Sammy

Beneath the buzz of fluorescent lights
in a room alive with antiseptic odor
I held him, cradled him
placed soft kisses upon his head
striped fur wet with tears.

Amid the chatter of his purr
chest heaving and coat shedding
I handed him gently to her
my throat aching
lips outlining "Goodbye."

Sam's green eyes flashed with life
emaciated body half his former weight
as she placed him upon the steel table
turned to a doctor
with Mercy's kind face.

A small needle prick upon the shaven paw
gray skin soft to the syringe.
Fingers drew out the plunger
red syrup blood clouding the solution
and then the inward plunge.

I lay my hands upon Sam
fingers intertwining with hers.
My agonized whispers of love and goodbye
mingled with her angel prayers
rose like incense into darkness.

I didn't blink, to see his soul take flight.
Eyes stilled to glass marbles
pink tongue slipping between his lips
cancered body sighing.
We eased him gently down upon the steel.

As the doctor left the room
we hugged Sam and then each other.
She placed him into a box
catnip mouse and daddy's sock beside
his quiet, curled form.

We drove through the night
sky clear and full of stars
recalled countless good times
spoke undying love and loyalty
for our Sammy.

We buried him the next morning
to poetry and song
beneath the spreading azalea bush
a chunk of unhewn marble and a pumpkin
marking his grave.

Scott Speck
1998