Q-Bert

IF IT SHOULD BE
If it should be that I grow weak, And pain should keep me from my sleep, Then you must do what must be done, For this last battle cannot be won.

You will be sad, I understand; Don't let your grief then stay your hand. For this day more than all the rest, Your love for me must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years - What is to come can hold no fears. You'd not want me to suffer so; The time has come, so let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend And please stay with me until the end. Hold me firm and speak to me Until my eyes no longer see. I know in time that you will see The kindness that you did for me.

Although my tail its last has wagged, From pain and suffering I've been saved. Please do not grieve - it must be you Who had this painful thing to do.

We've been so close, we two, through all these years - Don't let your heart hold back its tears.

GATE OF HEAVEN
I got to the gate of heaven yesterday after we said goodbye. I began to miss you terribly, because I heard you cry. Suddenly there was an angel and she asked me to enter heaven's gate.

I asked her if I could stay outside for someone who'd be late. I wouldn't make much noise you see, I wouldn't bark or howl, I'll only wait here patiently and play with my tennis ball.

The angel said I could stay right here and wait for you to come Because heaven just wouldn't be heaven if I went in alone. So I'll wait here, You take your time, but keep me in your heart. Because heaven just wouldn't be heaven without you to warm my heart.

OLD FRIENDS
Stay for a while; Give me your smile; Please, don't go away; I need you to stay;

My Old Friend —
Remember our past; Oh, I wish it would last; those romps in the sun were just so much fun;

With My Old Friend —
See how, my pup, you have grown; had pups of your own; passed on a special touch; to those who owe you so much;

My Old Friend —
Where has the time gone; For one last run. We've said our goodbyes; It's OK to close your eyes.

My Dear Old Friend.

-Pat Tetrault

HAVE YOU A PET IN HEAVEN
Have you a dog in Heaven, Lord? And do you pat its head? Does he sit up and beg each night before he goes to bed?

Does he look up with shining eyes when he sees Your smilling face? Does he wag his stubby little tail when he wants to run a race?

Have You a dog in Heaven, Lord? Is there room for just one more? Cause my little dog died today; he'll be waiting at Your door.

Please take him into Heaven, Lord. And keep him there for me, just feed him, pet him, love him, Lord, thats all he'll ask of Thee.

SHOULD YOU GO FIRST
Should you go first and I remain; To walk the road alone, I'll live in memories' garden; With happy days we've known.

In Spring I'll wait for roses red, When faded, the lilacs blue; In earl' Fall when brown leaves fall, I'll catch a glimpse of you.

Should you go first and I remain, For battles to be fought, Each thing you've touched; Along the way, Will be a hallowed spot.

I'll hear your bark, I'll see your smile, Though blindly I may grope, The memory of your helping paws; Will buoy me on with hope.

Should you go first and I remain; One thing I'll have to do, Walk slowly down that long path; For soon I'll follow you.

I want to know each step you take; So I may take the same, For someday down that lonely road; You'll hear me call your name.

WHERE TO BURY A DOG
If you bury him in this spot, he will come to you when you call. Come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path to your side again.

And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel, they shall not growl at him, nor resent his coming, for he belongs there.

People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no whimper; people who may never really have had a dog.

Smile at them, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing. The one best place then, to bury a dog — is in the heart of his master.

A DOG'S PRAYER
To Those Who Love and Those Who Love Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go — I have so many things to see and do.

You must not tie yourself to me with tears. Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love, you can only guess; How much you gave me in happiness. I thank you for the love you have shown.

But now it is time I traveled alone. So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must, Then let your grief be comforted by trust,

It is only for a while that we must part, So bless the memories within your heart,

I will not be far away, for life goes on, So if you need me, call and I will come. Though you can not see or touch me, I will be near.

And if you listen with your heart, you will hear; All my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone, I will greet you with a smile and "Welcome Home".

THE HOUSEDOG'S GRAVE
I've changed my ways a little, I can no longer run with you in the evenings along the shore, except in a kind of dream, and you, if you dream a little you see me there. So leave a while the paw marks on the front door, Where I used to scratch to come in or go out, and you'd soon answer, leave on the kitchen floor the marks of my drinking pan.

I cannot lie by your fire all evening on the warm stone, nor yet at the foot of your bed no, all the night through, I lie alone. But your kind thought has laid me less than 6 feet outside your window, where firelight so often plays, and where you sit to read, and, I fear, often grieving for me — every night your lamplight lies on my place.

You, Man and Woman, live so long, it is hard to think of you ever dying! A little dog would get tired, living so long. I hope that when you are lying under the ground like me, your lives will appear as good and joyful as mine. No, dears, that's too much hope — you have not been as well cared for as I have been,

And never knew the passionate, undivided fidelities I knew. Your minds are perhaps too active, too many sided, but to me you were true. You were never Masters, but Friends. I was your Friend. Deep love endures to the end and long past the end — If this is my end, I am not lonely. I am not afraid. I am still yours.

-R. Jeffers

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PET
To have loved and then said farewell is better than to have never loved at all. For all of the times that you stooped and touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you.

For the care that you gave to me so unselfishly. For all of these things I am grateful and thankful. I ask that you grieve not for the loss but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each other's lives.

My life was fuller because you were there, not as owner, but as my friend. Today, I am as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and the sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures. I can run, jump and play and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints and no regrets and no aging. We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know that togetherness is forever.

You live in our hearts as we do in yours. Companions such as you are very rare and unique. Don't hold the love that you have within yourself. Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies, and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.

-Your pet in heaven

NO MORE TEARS
The time has come for the tears to end for you to be happy and cheerful again. I am safe in God's home above cradled in His arms; covered with His love.

We run and play by the Bridge all day waiting for the day when you'll be here to stay. You've been crying so much I feel bad, I want you to be happy and not so sad.

Remember the time when I was so small, I couldn't even pickup the rubber ball. I fought that ball from morning to night; it made you laugh, I was quite a sight.

Remember teaching me sit and stay; we had such fun since I didn't really obey. but you kept at it with test after test; so when I entered my first show I was the best.

Remember the great times we had in the past like when we walked to the park we had a blast. We'd run and play all through the park; until the sun went down and it got dark.

Remember the times we went for a ride; I was so excited I'd jump right inside. Away we went to who knows where but you and I we didn't really care.

I'll always love you, you're my best friend. I'll be right with you even to the end. Always remember the great times we had and there will be no reason to ever be sad.

-John Quealy

LEND ME A PUP
I will lend to you for awhile, a pup, God said, For you to love him while he lives and mourn for him when he's dead. Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three But will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me.

He'll bring his charms to gladden you and should his stay be brief, you'll always have his memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return. But there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn.

I've looked the whole world over in search of teachers true And from the folk that crowd's life's land I have chosen you. Now will you give him all your love Nor think the labor vain, Nor hate me when I come to take my Pup back again.

I fancied that I heard them say "Dear Lord Thy Will be Done," For all the joys this Pup will bring, the risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter him with tenderness we'll love him while we may And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay!

But should you call him back much sooner than we've planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.

If, by our love, we've managed, your wishes to achieve! In memory of him we loved, to help us while we grieve, When our faithful bundle departs this world of strife, We'll have yet another Pup and love him all his life.

AN OWNER'S PLEA
Please, God, if You should hear a scratch on Eden's Gate tonight, A gentle whine, a muffled bark; have Peter take a light And open up the Pearly Gates and call his Spirit in, For I think he lived in Heaven once; please take him back again.

He may have been a mongrell, without a pedigree, Yet he was noble, kind and good; I think You will agree: That he'll be very useful where the souls of children play. He'll romp with them, and see; Dear God; they do not go astray.

Just tell him that we're sorry that we could not pat his head, And whisper how we loved him 'ere his Spirit fled. I pray that when death beckons, and my soul surmounts life's fog, I'll rate a place in Heaven, Dear God, beside my dog...

TIME TO GO
The time has come I think you know; the Lord is calling so I must go. I love you so much; I wish it wasn't so; I wish I could stay; I don't want to go.

You're the best family a dog ever had; so kind and gentle, never mean or mad. I'll never forget the day that we met; I was so lucky to become your pet.

You opened your door and showed me your heart; I'll never forget you; we'll never part. You loved me and cared for me over the years; you taught me everything and took away my fears.

The Lord is calling now I must go; but before I go I want you to know, I know it hurts to lose a friend; but I'll always be with you even to the end.

-John Quealy

MAY I GO
Do you think the time is right? May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?

I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be. So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?

I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might. But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.

I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay. But I will try as best I can to live just one more day. To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.

I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears. I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know, That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.

Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too, And that's why it's hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.

So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say, Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

-Susan A. Jackson

GOLDEN MEMORIES
They say memories are golden, well, maybe that is true. I never wanted memories, I only wanted you.

A million times I cried. If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly, in death I love you still. In my heart you hold a place no one else could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway and heartache make a lane. I'd walk the path to Heaven and bring you back again.

Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us back one by one, the chain will link again.

A PET'S LOSS
In your heart, you probably realize that in time the sadness you are feeling will fade.

For now, just know that it's all right to hurt — I will hurt with you. It's all right to cry — I will share your tears.

It is only through crying that you learn what it's really like to laugh — only after feeling sadness can you really experience joy.

So allow yourself to feel what comes natural — but know that someday life will be better — it will be easier to smile.