You never won any titles, but you irrevocably won my heart.
You ruled your Canine peers like a Queen-
Your authority was absolute and uncontested,
Your doggy bark-talk was soft but firm…
Your deeply seated unwavering maternal instinct
Ensured the safety of your babies with utter confidence…
“Siegerin”, “Grand Victrix” or “Champion”
Would never form a part of you pedigree
But in my heart that seat always belongs to you.
You will always be “Riska” – My OWN little “Siegerin”
Riska – uncontestably “Champion…
When you walked into the ring you were proud –
Self-confident, like an Africa Princess
Blue blood flowed warm through your veins
Your muscles were supple and perfect
A burning fire glowed in your eyes
And inner strength showed off
Your noble character that flashed from your being
With open pride and skilfully toned beauty
Nobody and nothing could ever extinguish
The flame within you…
Nothing…
…except that which was latent in your genes
Even before you were born…
…which lay cold and evil,
Waiting to steal exactly that which you exalted
With each breath, sound and movement…
…your life…
Had I but known but beforehand…
Perhaps then you would have stood a chance…
Who would have thought that this hour of hellish brokenness,
This moment of brutal separation,
Would come so quick and sudden,
So black and oh so lonely?
Why did the cruel cancer had to choose you?
You were but 8 years old…
Why did it have to be your clear brown eyes,
Always burning with fire and self-confidence,
That so suddenly turned dull and lifeless?
Why your beautiful head that suddenly
Came to rest against my shoulder?
Why did I, whom you have trusted above all else
Have to be the one that ultimately betrayed you?
Why me? Why you… my Riska?
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
My Riska (1990 – 1998)