In Loving Memory

In Loving Memory,

Poppy

September 2012- October 2013

When Evrick first met Poppy, she was a pudgy ball of puppy skin laying in my arms as we swung in my hammock, and his reaction was a mixture of confusion and disgust. “A wuh dat dutty daag deh?”

 

 

But who can say no to either of these faces?

 

 

 

 

 

 

It didn’t take long for her to grow on him. And I taught him how to teach her “sit” and “lay”. No one could romp with Poppy like Evrick, and no one, not even me, was happier to see him walk up the hill to our gate at the end of the day.

 

 

 

 

She was my family, and she was the most entertaining member of our yard.

  

She was my princess, the first dog I raised on my own from a puppy.

She proved to my community that the white girl knows how to pick a good breed.

She kept herself immaculately clean and never once refused a meal of vegetarian leftovers.

And she’s still the only dog in Jamaica I’ve ever seen eat mangos.

Inside of Poppy was a creature grown of affection
Not indifference
And it showed in every joyous footstep
Every ecstatic OW-ROO ROO ROO!
And manic tail wag that screamed
I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME HOME TO ME!

After 15 hours of fighting the brutal sickness that is parvo virus, Poppy found her peace and let go. We are devastated by her departure, but grateful that her suffering has come to an end.

My beautiful Poppy flower, you were taken too soon, and too gracelessly.

For that, for the pain you endured, I am truly and forever sorry.

I will always remember you hunting for lizards in the brush, galloping across the yard like a racehorse, the sound of your voice and the feeling of your head on my knee.

You pounced into my life and left paw prints in my heart, and while I may leave you, laying peacefully under the grapefruit tree, you, my flawless companion, will never leave me.