Heaven is in Mourning . . .

. . . because my big black brother Bogart is dead.

Keeper found Bogart sleeping peacefully in his house
with his head cradled in his two pillows.
Keeper did not want to disturb Bogart's nap
and decided to give me and Popsy Sumo
our scheduled weekly bath.

But when we were done with our bath
and Bogart was still asleep, Keeper panicked
because bath time is Bogart's favorite
and he would always wait eagerly near Keeper for his turn.
So when Keeper saw Bogart asleep
she panicked and found Bogart dead.

Keeper's wail broke the silence
of the hot quiet afternoon in our house Heaven.
In denial, she tried to call our vet friend DrGeoff
and Happy of GreenwoodsClinic
but it was over.

Oh I knew it was over.
Popsy Sumo knew too.
Animals like us can smell death fast
and Bogart just slept and died.
No ifs. No buts. No goodbyes.
Bogart died on us without a single bark.
I am mourning with every being in Heaven!

Keeper is completely inconsolable.
She kept crying and crying.
For Keeper, Bogart is the cleanest
the kindest, the patient and loving being in Heaven.
While me and my Popsy Sumo would bully Bogart
and laugh and poke fun at him and his silly face
Bogart would simply sleep it off . . .

Keeper asked me if Bogart was sick.
I honestly don't know.
He looks strong and drooly playful.
But lately, he was beside me all week . . .
. . . and I can't go anywhere without finding him
looming big and black beside me!

And since Keeper assigned me to manage all our blogs
including comments for Bogart and PopsySumo
I had to do double time work
while Bogart sniffed and watched the flowers . . .
Bogart loves flowers.
And flowers love him back.
They seem to be blooming for him all week!

But now I look at all the flowers
and all of Bogart's unpublished pictures
and all his flower stories and I knew
I have to continue where he left.

But as Keeper asked
how does one move on and say goodbye?

. . . when the one leaving
does not want to say goodbye . . .


How do you fill the empty space
that a big, black brother,
the one who adores you for life,
the one who licks and clean your fur,
has left without a . . . bark?


When I look at Heaven
and the big empty space
and the big missing something
that is like one's shadow
following you every step of the way
suddenly leave without a word . . .

. . . you feel empty.
You feel lost.
I am lost without Bogart.

How do I move on?


In the next weeks
I will publish all our unwritten stories
until I can fill the void Bogart left
in my heart and in our Heaven.

I will bark Bogart's stories
until I can assure myself
that indeed . . .
Bogart is in Heaven.


In memory of my brother Bogart
January 15, 2001 to April 14, 2010