I Hope The Rainbow Bridge Is Kinder Than The 75

by Kepler Goodwin, on compassion

Wind moves through your fur

Like toddlers hands

Rough

Only because it knows no better

Because rough is the only way it knows

How to love

Wind from passing cars knows nothing of being gentle

You lay on the edge of sight

Of mind

But not enough

To escape notice

Some will slow

Look at your body laying there

None will stop

80 Miles per hour is too fast

And there’s really no helping you now

My dog lays in the back seat

Play-tired body sprawled across the soft cloth

No cares in the world

I look at him

Then you in the rearview

Hope you remember the feeling

Imagine cool cloth in place of hot concrete

I hope you know

Somehow

That I saw you

Whispered a too-late apology

For your fate

I hope you know

Somehow

That you were loved

If by no one else

Then by me

Despite it being too late

I hope the next hand

That cards through your fur

Is soft

Is Gentle

And beckons you

To a cloth covered backseat

And a long

Peaceful

Drive home