A poem for Annie

Somewhere a puppy runs

Pleased with the world
and willing to please.
We played as she grew
and laughed on all fours
as she did on two.

Born in July
she was chest high by March
Her eyes never lied
when begging or sorry
and sparkeled when cleverly sly.

She laughed at our music
and we laughed with her
racing ten times the speed of life.
Now I dream that a puppy runs free
on a tether of love like hers.

I guard this dream
as she did our lives
because I can not erase
that last look of resignation
on our loving Annie's face.