My Golden Life

Love story for my golden retriever

She breathes, she sighs, she is still alive,
Every day a gift that she is still here
Waking, eating, walking, sleeping
Happiness written all over her face

Her pace is slower, her legs move with measured purpose
No longer can she run with grace and speed
No longer can she chase the ball across the grassy field
But determination and will are strong, she is a force to be reckoned with

They say she has a strong quality of life left in her
I would never have it any other way
She is my waking purpose, her comfort, her strength when needed
She is the love of my life

She sits and watches the Magpies roam the paddock
Too old to be bothered with chasing them away
Happy to watch them and know they are only there on her say so
Years ago, they would be lucky to land without her nose upon their backsides

The gentle breeze ruffles her golden locks
No grey to be seen
Her nose flickers back and forth, taking in the scents from the neighbour mowing next door
A bark issues forth with a quick look my way, who knows what she is after now

At night, her snores rent the very air around us
TVs need to be louder
Sleeping in peace is not a luxury afforded to us
But without that snore, I would be lost, as so would she

She came into my life when I needed her most
She taught me so very much
We went on a journey of learning and teaching together
She pushed my buttons, she broke my will at times

She was meant to be mine, and me, hers
She is an angel come to earth for one purpose alone.
To save me from my demons, my thoughts, my depression as dark as night
And save me she has, day after day, after day.

She is my golden girl
She is my life, my love
She is my senior to care for, to nurture and protect
She deserves nothing less.