The message was shocking,
"Had to put Jake down Monday,
Congestive heart failure and edema."
My heart sunk with great sadness.
My mind raced backwards to two weeks ago
when I stood beside this old, great one.
Eye to eye we stood, watching the sunset.
I stroked his soft chestnut, brown coat,
along his neck and under his mane.
His eyes contained such warmth and depth.
Thirty years he spent and graced this place.
A young teenage girl bought and trained him.
Children loved him, herds respected him.
Me, I simply communed with him.
After feeding him carrots he lowered his head.
His white striped forehead butted against me,
"More. More.", he whispered, only the bag was empty.
So together we watched the sky splashed with color.
Brillant shades of pink, orange, yellow and blue,
a glorious sunset over New York's Catskills.
One week later the sun went down on my new friend.
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