Rosie

Too sick to stand or eat.
A plate of her favorite
scrambled eggs
made sadly at the stove.
Tears danced and sizzled
as they fell on the hot range.

Mike called his friend, Dave.
“Dave can you help?
Can you give her an injection?
Do you have phenobarbital?
It’s what the vets use to put
dogs down.”
No phenobarbital. He asked
a neighbor. No luck.

Dave offered to shoot her through
the ear, twice, to be sure.
Cover the muzzle of the pistol
with a thick wad of towels -
put two, small caliber bullets into her brain.
Quick.

Do this on a big sheet.
Wrap her and drag her tired, red body
to the hole in the pasture nearby.
Make the hole deeper, and put on a heavy, round rock
to mark it.

It will be fast, and there won’t be pain.
Just the pain of hearing
the gunshots
and knowing
Dave has done what you asked
and your best friend lies still
nearby.