Goldfish In Heaven
It was a little cold this morning.
Colder this morning
than any other so far this year.
Of course every day this year seems
colder than any year before.
It’s October now.
It’ll be my birthday soon.
I’ll be eighty-four… or twelve.
I guess it all depends on who’s counting.
My best friends came to visit me today.
We spent some time in the backyard
just enjoying one another’s company.
They seemed a little distant…
maybe sad, even.
They did their best to hide it from me,
but I could tell.
After a time of laughter,
love and hidden tears,
my best friend asked
if I wanted to go for a ride.
Never one to turn down an adventure,
I gladly accepted.
The wind in the truck
was more than I have been used to.
God how it made my bones ache.
But it was nice to be out.
It had been quite a while
since my last outing.
When we arrived at the lake
my friend could tell how bad I hurt,
so he helped me out of the truck.
My best friend and I walked a ways
and I could feel the sadness in him
coming to the surface.
But he didn't seem to want to talk about it.
I figured I’d just let him talk about it
if he wanted.
I wasn’t going to pressure him.
He just put his hand on my back
and told me he loved me.
Then he said he had something for me
as he tussled the hair on my head.
He pulled a bag of Goldfish Crackers
out of his pocket
and offered me some.
God knows I love Goldfish Crackers.
I smiled at him and thanked him.
I never eat them one at a time.
I always eat them by the mouthful.
Today was no different.
After my second helping
I glanced at my friend once more.
I swear he knew exactly what I was thinking.
I have no doubt how much he loves me...
I just wish I could tell him
how much I love him.
I glanced down at the remaining crackers
and as I began to eat them I was secretly hoping
that more might magically appear before me.
As I did, I heard a sound.
A sharp sound.
As much in the distance
as right above me.
I guess it was the sound that
Goldfish Crackers make
when more
magically appear before you.
Because there they were.
And here they are.
I could eat Goldfish Crackers forever.
I wonder if there are Goldfish Crackers in Heaven.
~Sarah
©2010, R. Erin Lenth
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I wrote this poem late in the evening after I put Sarah, my faithful Labrador
Retriever, down.
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