Dying Matters Week: Unconditional Love, a poem by Rob McCann

Unconditional Love by Rob McCann

As you sleep by the hearth, with your head on your paw

Re-living how life was before,

How can you know, what a dog can never know

That your Daddy won’t be back any more?

When we first brought you home as a mischievous pup

You just bonded without having to learn.

You gave him your love unconditionally

Never expecting anything back in return

You slept every night at the the foot of his bed

To guard him with all the love in your heart.

You jumped every morning on top of his head

To lick his face and wake him up with a start.

Now sadly I know what a dog, just can’t know

And I wouldn’t tell you even if I could

That the last time we said Goodbye to him,

He went away for good.

If I said the old words, “Daddy’s home” like before

Would you fly with his slippers to the back door?

Sleep on undisturbed, you innocent old thing

I shall never say that anymore.