A Poem for Bella

We put our family dog, Bella, down to sleep yesterday and so it was a very sad time for all of us here, as our three young boys have known her as a friend and protector, and she was the first dog that I ever owned.

We also had a snowstorm here in New England during her final days and the pure whiteness of the snow, and its temporary nature, reminded me of her white coat of fur and those thoughts and the sadness of making the decision to end her life to spare her suffering sparked this poem in her memory.

All One of the Same (for Bella)
Listen to the Poem

I covet the unblemished snow —
the blanket of white replenished in this candlelight’s flickering glow —
knowing all the while how temporary this is
and how this earth will surely rise up to reclaim it
for another time;
another place.
It is all one of the same.
This flurry of contemplation brings on such a sudden sadness of loss,
so I reach out my fingers to gather up every flake falling
in order to watch the world disappear.
I hold tight to the memory of the moment
so that it
— all of it: the snow, the whiteness, the love —
may live on inside of me forever.

Peace (in dog heaven),
Kevin

6 Comments
  1. Sorry to hear about Bella, and this poem is a wonderful tribute to her. A touching connection, the white of the snow. A good time with the coming holidays and some vacation to be together as a family, remembering Bella. I would create a digital story/voice thread Maybe a family ds for Bella. I’m always thinking ds. Crazy.
    Bonnie

  2. I’m so sorry to hear about your loss.

    One of my favorite books as a kid and one I go back to at times like these is “The Tenth Good Thing About Barney” by Judith Viorst about a family putting their cat to rest. It may be part of the healing for your family.

  3. Thanks for all the kind thoughts.
    Matt, that book is the one recommended by our vet for our kids (and us, too, probably).
    I did get Dog Heaven, which is a nice kid-friendly look at the spirit of dogs.
    Take care
    Kevin

  4. So sorry to hear about Bella. I feel you loss as I have two older dogs that have some severe health issues this past year. Your poem was great and I love the ds idea. It always amazes me how these (relatively) quiet animals walk their way into our lives and hearts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *