Because you will not be forever, 
Hope against time though I may, 
Paint your picture in my memory, 
Eyes blue with age, muzzle gone gray. 

Because you walked with me in Springtime, 
Puppy-clumsy, running free. 
As you grew, we grew together-- 
You became a part of me. 

Because I shared with you my sorrows, 
Not understanding-- simply there. 
Often spurring me to laughter-- 
My friend, you know how much I care. 

Because the years have slowed your fleetness, 
Though your spirit still is strong. 
I promise I will take more time now, 
So that you can go along. 

Because you do not fear the future, 
Living only in the now, 
I draw strength from your example-- 
Yet time keeps slipping by somehow. 

Because the day will soon be coming 
When I will no longer see 
You rise to greet me - but in memory 
You will always walk with me. 

~ Gayl Jokiel ~

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played, 
I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade. 
I saw a wondrous image then of a place that's trouble free, 
where all of us can meet again to spend eternity. 
I saw the most beautiful rainbow and on the other side 
were meadows rich and beautiful lush and green and wide! 

And running through the meadows as far as the eye could see 
were every sort of animal, as healthy as could be! 
My own tired failing body was fresh and healed and new 
and I wanted to go run with them but I had something left to do. 
  I needed to reach out to you to tell you I'm alright, 
that this place is truly wonderful - then a bright glow pierced the night. 

'Twas the glow of many candles shining bright and strong and bold 
and I knew then that it held your love in it's brilliant shades of gold. 
  For although we may not be together in the way we used to be 
we are still connected by a cord that no eye can ever see. 
So whenever you need to find me we're never far apart 
if you look beyond the rainbow and listen with your heart. 

~ Author Unknown ~