Sorrow And Joy 

Adopted at age five

Our lives merging on

November fifteen, twenty, 0, eight

Love at first sight

Though with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Love is most always at first sight

Kody and I immediately family.

Placed for adoption due to “issues”

Coming from a wealthy appearing home

Containing another of Kody’s breed of average size 

Looking small when alongside Kody

Obviously a product of canine misbreeding

Kody twice the average size of his breed.

Though in no way destructive

Though completely house-broken

Though friendly to all,

Animal and human.

Kody came with “issues” never fully resolved

However hard pulling when under leash

Solved in time in part with a special harness

Though quiet when home,

Never a neighbor’s complaint

When on leash however

Pulling and barking problem

Never resolved.

Food always a problem

Grabbing whatever edible within reach

Never resolved.

The time between

From the day we met,

Kody and me

Issues minimal

Compared to love received.

An accident on March seventeen, twenty thirteen

Non-repairable spinal injury causing paralysis

When induced by injection

My friend Kody and myself parted company

Two days after.

Tears shed

All that have love for a true friend

Know of shedding tears

And yet,

A phone call received three days after

Telling of a defunct kennel

And of dogs in need of a home

Though still in mourning for my friend Kody

Coming into my life with near,

At least on my part,

Coming into my life with near instant bonding

With certainly,

At least on my part

Coming into my life with instantaneous love

A near eight pound seven year old Japanese Chin

In need of medical treatment

In need of a home

Came into my life.

Though all the dogs,

Though all of the friends

From throughout my life

Always not far from loving memory

Love now centered upon

My little “Mushi.”

Needing a Japanese Name

Consulting a Chinese restaurant menu

“Mushu Pork” catching my eye

My “Mushi”

Named after a pork filled pancake.

 ©June 19, 2013 / Mark M. Lichterman