My little dog br Who has spent her whole life loving us br Is dying br Her heart which has loved so freely br For so long br Is weakening br At least I know she is br Not dying br From a broken heart br No little ‘Chinowna’ br Has ever been loved more br br She is dying from a life br Well lived br Very few smells have gone by unsniffed br No beaches and parks remain br Unexplored br She has slept with her humans almost br Every night since she was born br Her short brown coat br Shedding short brown hairs br In our bed br br Her size belied br The immeasurable gift of unconditional love br She gave to her family br She never cared br What we looked like br Or what our jobs were br Or how much money we had in the bank br We always had ‘abundance’ br When she was with us br But none of that mattered br To her br She just – lovedbr br Elizabeth Russellbr br