Our youngest of our family clan Halle (pronounced like Halle Berry) died on Sep 1st. She suffered a blow to the chest most likely from running into a stationary object outdoors which caused internal bleeding. Unfortunately, the vets here in Seychelles couldn't properly diagnose or treat her and she died. By chance we took her in rather hesitantly only 2 1/2 years ago because someone dumped a whole litter of puppies by our house - which is quite a common practice in the third world. Little did we know though that she would develop into the most amazing dog one could hope for in life. Thus, out of homage for the little joy of our life, her beautifully unique personality, and to ease the grief we are experiencing, I created this memorial and added a poem (below) which I wrote so that her memory will hopefully live on through my words.
If you have pets, don't forget to treasure them as gifts from God because they, like us, are only here for a short time.
Travis Jensen
Her Majesty’s Memento Mori
O’ refuse of rotting found treasure of this earth,
Divine Hand such a night fused together pre-birth,
O’ medley black balanced white illuminate bend,
That brightest dark evening flecks from a family blend.
Spartan child Taygetus you staved off a first eve,
Nourished on milk famished mother of a new creed,
Neither mange nor worm would asunder render you,
With a wretch, with a groan survive did the weak too.
Broke morning proud you raged refused pedestal tomb,
Out ran your race against the sickle of ruin,
Soon kindred divided uncertain your short straw,
Chance base of our totem beneath so sturdy claws.
O’ infant binary your name was just chosen,
Us mortal domestic our bosom was stolen,
O’ speckled your white socks a queenly blackened coat,
Our color slowly bled, life is black and white cloaked.
Bark booming aberrant bellowed over our hill,
Dusk your youthful fountain love your alchemist’s still,
From balconied banter to a tap on the thigh,
Light earthly bright sparkling were kaleidoscope eyes.
For each click of the latch proved ye never truant,
A chin thankfully reposing we became your student,
Gratefully voracious for your part daily bread,
Sweet thy taps conductor morning welcome you led.
O’ life’s sweet surveyor staked our heart’s claim did thee,
Respired air equal dancing paws between feet,
And at the little bell in line right flank you fell,
In cadence to each step gently pressing to tell.
Renoir of our soul painting canvas unseen,
Your brush dipped with white ink patterned thy swirls sweet,
Mirror genius the King Stradivarius thee,
Our home your masterpiece our heart your gallery.
Yet in life every song, story, poem, totem,
Comes to an end certain a cycle unbroken,
Your history was written two and one half annum,
Moment minute to man no fathoming fatum.
Still faithful did you prove to masters temporal,
So deserve you reward a true treat eternal.
Thus run ahead siren and be not ye afraid,
Rest on your blanket in our home of timeless stay,
And wait your bowl Halle as we are right behind,
You need only glance back to secure this remind.