Poems, quotes and support for when the time has come to say goodbye
Freeing our animals from pain when they tell us the time has come is the ultimate way to show them our love and respect - but no matter how much we know it's the right thing to do, it's always the hardest...
To quote Jan Elliott-Goin, "no matter how long we have them, it's never long enough."
To quote Jan Elliott-Goin, "no matter how long we have them, it's never long enough."
My Wish - Shirley Cruickshank
If the day should come when I'm in pain,
And you know I won't be well again
Promise you'll do what must be done
If this is the battle that can't be won.
It'll break your heart, but please be kind,
Don't let your grieving sway your mind.
For this is when you'll let me see
Just how much you do love me.
Together we've had happy years
The future now can hold no fears.
Please don't let me suffer so
When that day comes, please let me go.
For my usual vet please will you send?
But stay with me until the end.
Hold me steady, speak to me
Till my once bright eyes no longer see.
In time I hope you'll come to see
It's the last kindness you'll do for me
One more time please stroke my mane
And know that I'll have no more pain.
And don't be sad that it was you
Who decided this was what to do.
We've been such buddies through the years
Don't let me be the cause of tears.
You'll always see me graze now,
with the sun upon my back
Painful limbs won't tire me now,
however long the hack.
I live now in your heart and mind,
a lovely place to stay.
And what you have in memories,
no one can take away.
If the day should come when I'm in pain,
And you know I won't be well again
Promise you'll do what must be done
If this is the battle that can't be won.
It'll break your heart, but please be kind,
Don't let your grieving sway your mind.
For this is when you'll let me see
Just how much you do love me.
Together we've had happy years
The future now can hold no fears.
Please don't let me suffer so
When that day comes, please let me go.
For my usual vet please will you send?
But stay with me until the end.
Hold me steady, speak to me
Till my once bright eyes no longer see.
In time I hope you'll come to see
It's the last kindness you'll do for me
One more time please stroke my mane
And know that I'll have no more pain.
And don't be sad that it was you
Who decided this was what to do.
We've been such buddies through the years
Don't let me be the cause of tears.
You'll always see me graze now,
with the sun upon my back
Painful limbs won't tire me now,
however long the hack.
I live now in your heart and mind,
a lovely place to stay.
And what you have in memories,
no one can take away.
The Grandest Foal - Anon
I'll lend you for a little while,
my grandest foal, God said.
For you to love while he's alive,
and mourn for when he's dead.
It may be one or twenty years,
or days or months, you see.
But will you, til I take him back,
Take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you
and should his stay be brief,
you'll have those treasured memories,
as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught on earth
I want this foal to learn.
I've looked the wide world over
in my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
with trust, I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love?
Nor think the labor vain.
Nor hate me when I come
to take him back again?
I know you'll give him tenderness
and love will bloom each day.
And for the happiness you've known,
you will forever-grateful stay.
But should I come and call for him
much sooner than you'd planned,
you'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
and maybe understand.
I'll lend you for a little while,
my grandest foal, God said.
For you to love while he's alive,
and mourn for when he's dead.
It may be one or twenty years,
or days or months, you see.
But will you, til I take him back,
Take care of him for me?
He'll bring his charms to gladden you
and should his stay be brief,
you'll have those treasured memories,
as solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay,
since all from earth return.
But there are lessons taught on earth
I want this foal to learn.
I've looked the wide world over
in my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes,
with trust, I have selected you.
Now will you give him all your love?
Nor think the labor vain.
Nor hate me when I come
to take him back again?
I know you'll give him tenderness
and love will bloom each day.
And for the happiness you've known,
you will forever-grateful stay.
But should I come and call for him
much sooner than you'd planned,
you'll brave the bitter grief that comes,
and maybe understand.
for Winston - Jan Elliott-Goin
...And he looked deep into my eyes
and he said "YOU are the center of my universe
I have loved YOU always"
I pressed my head into his and assured him that I was here
as I had always been here
and he looked deep into my heart
and he asked me "How much do you love me?"
and I stroked his face, smoothing closed his eyes as I replied
"With all my heart..."
and then, he looked deep into my soul
and he asked me
"Do you love me enough to let me go?"
and I held him close and replied softly....
yes.......
This beautiful poem was written by Jan Elliott-Goin on the morning her beloved "heart dog" Winston told her it was time...
Jan's moving tribute to Loxley's Winston can be read at www.curiohoundsigs.com.
Please do not reproduce this poem without permission.
"To place your horse's need for you to let him leave his failing body above your need to keep him with you - that - is the greatest and purest love." Cynthia Garrett
If it should be - Anon
If it should be that I grow weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep
Then you must do what must be done
For this last battle cannot be won
You will be sad, I understand
Don't let your grief then stay your hand
'For this day more than all the rest
Your love for me must stand the test
We've had so many happy years
What is to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer so
The time has come, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend
And please stay with me until the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time that you will see
The kindness that you did for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering, I've been saved.
Please do not grieve it must be you
Who had this painful thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years.
Don't let your heart hold back its tears.
And pain should keep me from my sleep
Then you must do what must be done
For this last battle cannot be won
You will be sad, I understand
Don't let your grief then stay your hand
'For this day more than all the rest
Your love for me must stand the test
We've had so many happy years
What is to come can hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer so
The time has come, please let me go.
Take me where my needs they'll tend
And please stay with me until the end.
Hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time that you will see
The kindness that you did for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering, I've been saved.
Please do not grieve it must be you
Who had this painful thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years.
Don't let your heart hold back its tears.
Somewhere - Stanley Harrison
Somewhere in time's own space
there must be some sweet pastured place
where creeks sing on and tall trees grow,
some paradise where horses go.
For by the love that guides my pen,
I know great horses live again.
-Stanley Harrison
there must be some sweet pastured place
where creeks sing on and tall trees grow,
some paradise where horses go.
For by the love that guides my pen,
I know great horses live again.
-Stanley Harrison
Don't mourn for me - Anon
Don't mourn for me
Dear owner, kind and true.
I know that you will miss me
As I will also think of you.
We shared so many secrets;
those you whispered in my ear.
I've kept those secrets for you
lest anyone would hear.
And in return you've kept me
from being turned out in the cold.
You've fed, watered, and cared for me
while we both grew old.
But God had called and needs me;
He says that it is time
I claim that sweet reward
in a kinder, green clime.
He promises sweeter clover,
clear water, rich and pure.
I'll never have to suffer
from wounds that humans cannot cure.
I'll romp and play all day
with others he has called hither.
I'll have so many new friends
that will scratch upon my wither.
I'll be watching out for you
when comes your judgment day
and together towards the pearly gates
we again will ride away!
Don't mourn for me
Dear owner, kind and true.
I know that you will miss me
As I will also think of you.
We shared so many secrets;
those you whispered in my ear.
I've kept those secrets for you
lest anyone would hear.
And in return you've kept me
from being turned out in the cold.
You've fed, watered, and cared for me
while we both grew old.
But God had called and needs me;
He says that it is time
I claim that sweet reward
in a kinder, green clime.
He promises sweeter clover,
clear water, rich and pure.
I'll never have to suffer
from wounds that humans cannot cure.
I'll romp and play all day
with others he has called hither.
I'll have so many new friends
that will scratch upon my wither.
I'll be watching out for you
when comes your judgment day
and together towards the pearly gates
we again will ride away!
The Best Place to Bury a Horse - Anon
If you bury him in this spot,
the secret of which you must already have,
he will come to you when you call
come to you over the far, dim pastures of death,
and though you ride other, living horses through life,
they shall not shy at him, nor resent his coming.
For he is yours and he belongs there.
People may scoff at you,
who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall,
who hear no nicker pitched too fine for insensitive ears.
People who may never really love a horse.
Smile at them then, for you shall know
some thing that is hidden from them, and which is well worth knowing.
The one place to bury a horse is in the heart of his master.
the secret of which you must already have,
he will come to you when you call
come to you over the far, dim pastures of death,
and though you ride other, living horses through life,
they shall not shy at him, nor resent his coming.
For he is yours and he belongs there.
People may scoff at you,
who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall,
who hear no nicker pitched too fine for insensitive ears.
People who may never really love a horse.
Smile at them then, for you shall know
some thing that is hidden from them, and which is well worth knowing.
The one place to bury a horse is in the heart of his master.
More beautiful thoughts and poems at Hoofbeats In Heaven
Don't Cry For The Horses - Brenda Riley-Seymore
God Jumps - Lauren Davis Baker
eulogy for my friend: when it's time to set them free - Cat Walker
Gone From My Sight - Henry van Dyke
Don't Cry For The Horses - Brenda Riley-Seymore
God Jumps - Lauren Davis Baker
eulogy for my friend: when it's time to set them free - Cat Walker
Gone From My Sight - Henry van Dyke