For Sugar, My Sweet Dog

Sugar, my sweet, you’ve slipped away, Into the light of a softer day. My heart aches deep, it’s hard to bear, This quiet house, this empty air. You were my shadow, soft and warm, A snuggle-seeking, loving form. With wagging tail and gentle eyes, You filled my world with sweet surprise. Escape artist with a wild soul, You chased the wind, you played the role Of fearless friend on grand crusades, Through tangled woods and open glades. But now those paws have come to rest, And though I know it’s for the best, I wish for just one moment more— One happy bark, one leap, one door You'd sneak out through with that sly grin, Your little games, your spirit’s spin. I miss your warmth beside my bed, The nuzzle of your sleepy head. The silence now is sharp and wide, Without my Sugar by my side. But love like yours does not just part, It lingers in the quiet heart. Forever mine, you’ll always be— A friend, a joy, a piece of me.