Ivan Theodore v. Frischborn

Soft rippled water flows behind,

Dark clouds split to open a crack,

A startling pink spills out on the water.

The only sound is the ferry engine hum.

Alone, I watch the dawn over the ocean.

Light chases the grey water,

An unfocused wrinkled mirror

Invisible where it flows to meet the sky.

Bits of blue now behind the clouds,

The water still sleeps.

When she wakes she will thrash around

With gale force winds.

I feel a deep, terrible sadness

As I think of our Theo.

He just drifted away, his eyes

Not unfriendly, not sad, just accepting.

I would talk to him,

He would wag his tail in answer

Then lie back down again.

We were told that he was very ill

That his time was short,

And it was all so sudden.

The morning is still grey;

Clouds moving in all directions at once.

We will miss you, little dog.

Funny how we always called you that

Even when you were a full-grown dog;

When we got you as a wee puppy

We already had your older brother.

You will always be our little dog.

The ferry docks on dark, quiet water

In the inlet, the sea wakes up with the wind.

Your life with us was a pleasure

And a consternation.

You were always happy,

Inquisitive, perpetually in trouble,

And forever hungry.

You always loved us

Even when we were mad at you.

Rest in peace, little dog, we will always love you.