letting go

when it was time
for your dog to be put down.
to be let go,
put asleep, are there
any words or phrases
that lessen
the loss? none come
to mind. but how you held
him in your arms
as the needle was gently
slipped into a vein
of his grey paw,
how you found his
heart beat with your
hand upon his warm chest,
how he stared at you,
remembering, being sad,
being mournful, probably not.
but for you, yes.
a thousand times yes.