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Inside My Dusty Box of Memories

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For the 'Dusty Box of Memories' Contest of Constance La France

I include a link to another poem that describes how my dear Olllyver revisited me upon his death. I believe it to be true, although I suppose it cannot be proved:

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/ollyver_my_beloved_1193617

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“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we have loved deeply, becomes a part of us.” — Helen Keller On opening my dusty box of memories, I found a photo of my darling dog whose name was Ollyver - a tiny white Eskimo I had adopted when he was one year old; I think he’d not been loved. He cowered around men, and it was only I he clung to with adoration. Dear Ollyver waited each night till I came home. He’d jump into my arms. His love for me was unconditional. Sadly, I had to give him up ten years later. I was promised he would not be killed. My heart ached and I spilled many tears hearing his mournful howl as I made myself walk away.

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Duke Beaufort

Date: 2/16/2025 4:56:00 PM

Andrea...both a loving and sad story you've told. It all goes to show you have a big heart! You bring a lot of sweet passion with this one. Smiles!!

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 2/13/2025 10:02:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your lovely yet sad write. Their love will last forever... Have a blessed day with your win....................

Oliver Mckeithan

Date: 2/12/2025 5:34:00 PM

Congratulations on a well deserved win. Tough poem to write.

Ann Peck

Date: 2/12/2025 2:08:00 PM

Oh Andrea, This is so precious. I cried. I had to give up my two dogs last June, when I broke my hip. We love our pets so much...Congratulations on First Place! I bet Constance cried,too!

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/13/2025 4:19:00 PM

Sorry you lost yours too

James Marshall Goff

Date: 2/12/2025 12:15:00 PM

Goodness Andrea, similar happened to me when I moved to a condo, physically painful

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 2/12/2025 10:42:00 AM

- A wonderful and cherished memory... they become like part of the family and painful to lose - Congratulations on your top win in the contest, Andrea :) - hugs

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/13/2025 4:20:00 PM

Thanks, dear

Christopher Delegans

Date: 2/11/2025 11:26:00 PM

Thank you for sharing, Andrea. This is so relatable. I lost my Siberian to cancer recently and it crushed me. I also have a boxer/cattle dog in her senior years and will lose her soon. Endings are always sad but the sweet and loving memories they provide us. Sorry about your sweet Ollyver.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/13/2025 4:21:00 PM

Thanks and sorry. I lost a dear cat to cancer. The food they get is now causing more cancer in pets. Same as for humans

Dean Wood

Date: 2/11/2025 10:04:00 PM

Amdrea, This poem has me in tears. I lost my little friend a couple of years ago. It is a pity dogs don't live longer. An emotive poem, that's what makes it so good.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/13/2025 4:20:00 PM

Thanks, Dean

Paige Hind

Date: 2/11/2025 1:42:00 PM

This is sad. I had to give away one of my cats I had once. It's something you never get over. <3

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 3:02:00 PM

Yes. I had to give away a few cats too. I clung to my favorites even as they were dying and then I realized they were suffering and I needed to have them put to sleep

Abdullah Alhemaidy

Date: 2/11/2025 11:12:00 AM

I love pets and farms. Taking care of wild birds, cats and dogs is more interesting than take care of them indoors. Because, they are very free, first of all. Secondly, they do what they love to. Thirdly, you do not have to feed them every day. From long experience for both indoors and outdoors, I would say. Now, outdoorsy cares are my preferred! Have a nice day sweet lovely poetess! Best wishes & regards ~ AA

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 3:01:00 PM

That's so cool, Abdullah

Terrell Martin

Date: 2/11/2025 8:57:00 AM

We do love our pets as they love us in return and it's gut-wrenching to have to see or let them go. This poem exudes the emotional turmoil you must have experienced, Andrea. I could feel your pain. But writing poetry about real life situations is almost always cathartic and I hope that's true for you, too, Andrea. Hugs & Kudos, Terrell

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 9:07:00 AM

thanks, Terrell. Gosh, I think I wrote at least ten poems for this special dog.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 2/11/2025 8:08:00 AM

A sweet tribute! We do remember our pets.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 9:07:00 AM

thanks, Kim

Akham Nilabirdhwaja Singh

Date: 2/11/2025 5:58:00 AM

Dusty box of memories ,very beautiful. Amongst it the photo of the darling pet and sweet and loving memory of him unfolding.Such a beautiful poem !

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 9:06:00 AM

thanks, Akham

John Read

Date: 2/11/2025 5:28:00 AM

Hi Andrea, I used to own a boxer dog my dear wife thought the world of him, when he passed on it was like losing a member of the family, still have old photos of him,lovely memories to look back on, all the best in the contest. xx

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 9:06:00 AM

Hi and yes, they are just like family!

Oliver Mckeithan

Date: 2/11/2025 4:30:00 AM

Powerful poem Andrea. That had to be heart wrenching to give him up after you rescued him and he lived with you for 10 yrs. This is a good candidate in the contest albeit a sad one.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 9:05:00 AM

thanks, Oliver. He had a very bad habit that my husband could no longer tolerate and it killed me to let him go. At that time Pet Smart would take certain types of dogs and adopt them out. I think he went through more than one owner before he died a few years later.

Sara Kendrick

Date: 2/11/2025 3:36:00 AM

I can feel your pain. I have had a few pets that I was attached to in much the same way. It is hard to lose them. Reads like a good contender to me. Way to go. Sara K

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 9:04:00 AM

thanks and yes, it's so hard, Sara

Robert Pettit

Date: 2/11/2025 3:34:00 AM

I felt similar sadness when I had to part ways with my dog named Fred. As usual, your work is very impressive.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 9:04:00 AM

thanks, Robert. Where have you been?

Ink Empress

Date: 2/11/2025 12:59:00 AM

Dear sweet andrea, This is such a poignant and heartfelt poem woven from your soul, i felt the emotions flowing throughout this. Especially the ending is so sad, " I was promised he would not be killed. My heart ached and I spilled many tears hearing his mournful how" thats so sad! Ans how sweet he was so attached to you. Youve expressed so well here and that must be a picture of ollyver? So cute! Felt this poem deeply, best wishes for the contest.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 6:30:00 AM

Yes, that's the only picture I have of him that is already at FB. I don't know to put any other pictures up. He was an amazing pet! I am going to find my poem about his visit to me upon his death. I ought to put a link of that here!

CayCay Jennings

Date: 2/10/2025 11:46:00 PM

Pierced my heart. I'm not sure I want to know if it's true or not (yes, there's the picture, so probably true.) I think this was hard hitting for me because I've been in and felt this experience with a dog. Truth is, you never stop feeling emotional about the moment you walked away. Well written, darling writer ... CayCay

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 2/11/2025 6:29:00 AM

Hi, Caycay, Yes it was true. I have written many poems about him. I should be a link to the poem that describes how he revisited me upon his death! thanks for reading, dear