Three Years Later

So what kind of a dog are you going to get

You asked

A week before your death

 

I don’t want to talk about it

I answered

 

And for months later I researched dog breeds

And debated puppies and older dogs

And getting a dog at all

 

Tonight your ghost sat down on the couch next to me

Your ghost fingers reached down

They petted the old dog asleep on the floor

 

Your brown eyes met mine

She’s a good dog

You said

A good old dog

 

You told me before you died that I was strong

 

Say it again

Say it again

Say it again