I want my dog back now.
This has gone on long enough.
Something must have gone wrong
and the world is ignoring my sadness.
She passed away in spring so already
we missed the summer together
and it’s well into fall. She shouldn’t
have missed barking at the kids
in their costumes last week.
Thanksgiving and Christmas won’t be the same.
She’s one of the family and how can the world
be happy without her? It’s hard
to think of her wandering in all that sky
with no one to help her cross the street.
Without her toys, how can she
play among the stars?
I didn’t consent to such a long absence.
I never agreed to forever.
Someone put an end to this absurdity
and bring her home to me.
The days are getting shorter now.
J. Kyle Kimberlin
November 2025
Metaphor 
Thank you so much, Andy. I’m glad to know it resonated with you.
Your poem captures it so truthfully and vividly of what it’s like to lose a pet. Truly family. Almost every pet lover can relate.
Thank you, Under the Mask, for your kind comment. It’s comforting to know that others can relate to the long leave-taking we go through.
🥹Lovely poem, and again, I’m so sorry for your loss, but ironically, I came straight over here from a text message in which I almost didn’t recognize my granddog from down South whose eyebrows are now as white as her muzzle and I thought, “I’ll likely never pet Rae-Rae again..” It’s way too awful to lose our warm fuzzy fam. 🌷