send a flower for our darling dog
she’s been our sunshine these stormy seven
years but now the Cancer has her and I
can’t even breathe – the shear thought of her gone
bleeds my heart to Black. Send a flower
for my Sweetest wife – how her red, red heart
bleeds as well to Black! Our mutual sunshine
is ravaged, savaged in the Cancer’s teeth
too slowly – yet all too quick! A flower
send for Sparky: his only sister too
soon going to the Undiscovered Country,
and who now his anxiety to ease?
Send us flowers; our little family,
too soon less one by Cancer, bleeds to black.

12/1/23 dmpitchford