Sheepdog Passing
He said "You needn't wait
if you'd rather" and called the nurse.
"It's for the best" He said.
Whose best, I'd like to know? It's
all very well for Him
All glass and stainless steel.
"It will be very quick" He said,
and filled the syringe.
"There will be no pain" He said
and clipped the hair above the vein.
Holding her, she licked my hand and
understood: anything would be a piece of cake
after nights of blizzards on the moors
to pinpoint buried sheep, and rescue lambs
or, to a whistle, in the noontide heat
outrun, collect and fetch far flocks
from hills to lusher lowland grounds.
Her eyes reminded me of little things, shared
times to treasure garnered over half a life.
"It's done" He said
and dropped the needle in the stainless bowl.
At peace she watched me, sighed and slept.
Him, in his glass and stainless world
said there would be no pain:
but He was wrong.
Alan Chesterfield
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