by Jennifer Davis
AND A TREE
(Originally a tribute to Tara and Butch)
By Jennifer P. Davis
Nov. 14, 2000
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It’s quiet and dark…and she closed her eyes
And knew that eventually everyone dies.
"So this is it,” she thought - "I'm gone. It's all over...
...but what's that I smell? That's strange - is it clover?"
She opened her eyes - dear Lord, but it's bright...
She waited a moment to adjust to the light.
She looked all around..."What is this I see?"
Another dog’s face, a warm sun - and a tree.
The dog was all smiles - "Welcome..." she hears,
“I’ve been waiting for you and watching your tears.”
“I can’t get up – I have been fighting cancer.”
She received a small nudge as her only answer.
She stretched out her limbs, “What is this? I feel strong!
I feel as if I could run all day long!”
“You’ve ended your journey – you’ve come to your home.
Others to play with and fields to roam!”
“THE Bridge?” she exclaimed… “That means I am dead?”
“No – not really” the big dog kindly said.
“I just got here myself…it’s my job to greet you
and show you the place – it’s really neat. You
ready for a look see?” His eyes were bright
“Uh, OK…” she stammered – the place was quite a site.
She stood… “What about Mom? I can’t just leave…
She’s been left all alone to be sad and grieve.”
“You can watch her from here…” He took her to the tree…
“Look really closely – now what do you see?”
She said, “It’s a tree.” “No, look a bit harder…”
So she did…and with that, the trunk shimmered like water
…and a picture appeared! Right there in the bark!
“M-Mom?” she stammered – and her mood turned all dark
Her Mom was crying, grieving and in pain!
“Why show me this? That’s mean! How vain!”
“You don’t understand…this is the place
where we watch our people whose lives we did grace…
…it keeps us connected, it lets us know
to be ready for when our people do show…”
With that a small dog came up and peeked
At the tree, and jumped, and with glee he shrieked!
“He’s coming, he’s coming!” the little dog squealed
and ran to a gate at the end of the field
and she closely watched with growing surprise
as a person appeared there, right before her eyes!
Together the small dog and person wandered
To another gate labeled, “Enter”. She then pondered…
“So – let me see if I’ve got this straight…
this tree, it informs us of our person’s fate?”
“Yes – it allows us to see and prepare
for their coming – we’ll enter the Bridge as a pair.”
“But the waiting isn’t bad – you’ll make lots of new friends
Having tons of fun, eating treats without end!”
“I could get used to this…” she pondered the thought
“And I’m clear of the cancer that long I have fought?”
“No disease, no discomfort, no pain, not one tear…
Only love and fun take residence here.”
“I do miss my Mom” the dog lowered his head
“But we must do what we should, and that’s wait.” she said.
“That’s the spirit!” He flashed a bright smile
“Now lets go and play with the others a while!”
They ran off and frolicked and disappeared out of sight…
It was quiet a moment…then a small glowing light.
A puppy appeared, lying still with eyes closed
And another dog approached and nudged it with its nose…
“Get up…” the dog whispered, and nudged it again…
“You’re home now…” he said, “I am your friend.”
The pup opened its eyes, and what did it see?
Another dog’s face, a warm sun - and a tree.