Living in Negative Space

Chester, faithful for nearly seventeen years.

Monday we "put him down."

Its Friday.

Living without the click of his nails,

The old man cough,

a wrap-around hug at my knee.

I miss him most at night.

reaching out my hand

to pet his head,

whisper in his too-deaf ear

what a good boy he is and

before I head to bed

say, "Goodnight, Chester."