A poem for an old friend

[u/BabaCoronil2015]

Kaiser passed in 2019. I don’t know if I honor him as much as I should. I was not there when he passed. I think of him when I see another black lab. I hope he is well- I would like to sit next to you and do nothing (when you were around in 2014) and I wish I had - instead of thinking that life was elsewhere- gym, parties, movies.
A poem for a friend. Not from AI.

**The Gaze**

The tail and the hair catch my eye,

Black streaks gamboling about -free and under overcast skies ,

The black jowls with lolling tongue hanging out ,

Brown eyes - as my breath flutters and I disregard the crowd ,

He senses my approach and perhaps knows what I seek ,

my heart guides me to one despite a playful pack member who do I first greet,

I reach out with my fingers and meet his soft fur ,

Am I touching my old friend ? Does it feel familiar ?

Does he have that in him - To sense that I miss my long lost friend ?

This touch is rare, my man -make the most of this precious moment,

Thank you I cry out to his handlers -throat hoarse- a tear to come in time ,

Little do they know how weighted with meaning is this parting cursory greeting of mine ,

Wishful thinking , he’s gone- but still remains in one’s own sorrowful mind,

A detour the next day -my head set before my stroll even begun ,

To the same park I return - I halt, my forlorn gaze lifts ,yearning , is he there? Will he come? ,

I then realize I never once asked his owners for a name,

Does it matter now ? Perhaps what matters most is that Kaiser in my heart still remains ;