Blackberry Brandy

her name is Brandelyn, we all call her Brandi but
he calls her Blackberry Brandy, a long cool name
for the love of his life whose hair shines like a smooth
sip of it when they sit on the beach beneath a full moon,
tide rising to rush the shore

but they’re never in a rush

they sit back on the blanket she kept on the backseat
for when she took Ruffles for a ride, his canine head
flying out the window in pure joy, his chuffs when they
headed home too soon for him

but Ruffles was gone more than a month

she’s sad now, he leans into her, nuzzles her slender neck
furry with white dog hair, kisses her cheek and spits fur while
she laughs, a soft melodic sound that staunches his cough and
makes him smile

how he’s missed that laugh these past weeks

forty years together, she still makes his heart do a double beat
his Brandy, sweet as blackberries off the vine, his soul mate,
his soul aching for the void left between them… Ruffles loved
him but loved her more

he hurts for her hurting

tomorrow, their anniversary, he’s taking a risk, a longshot gulp
of hope he prays will be the answer, will bring her back from
wherever she goes when her shine is dimmed, the abyss where
he tries

but he can’t reach her

she will be the answer to his prayers, she who needs a name,
who wears a purple collar, she who waits at the neighbor’s
house until morning, her shiny black fur almost the color
of blackberries, and maybe, that will be her name but
he’s hoping it will be Angel

delivering puppy kisses to bring joy back to his love

~ J R Turek Hour 8