One week ago from today…

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry

Copper crossed over the rainbow bridge, and I don’t know how we made it through from last Monday, a very sad and emotional day, to today. It’s been tough. Loss is Loss. He wasn’t just a dog, he was family, and for thirteen years he was in our lives. So, it takes more than a day or two, or even a week to move forward without a broken heart. Truth is, I don’t know how long it will take. But in between the tearful moments from missing him beyond words – from not being able to pet him, kiss him on the top of his soft head, feel his silky ears, or bury our faces in his fur, we find joy in the life we had with him, how he enriched our lives with his unconditional love. It’s serendipitous to know that he came into our lives in March 2012 and left our earthly world in March 2025. All we can do is give ourselves grace (my daughter’s advice), and continue to take one day at a time.

I’ve been writing a lot, as my good friend, Resa from https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/, advised me to do. Her words, “Fall on your pen!” So I share this poem with you today; it’s still new with possible editing in the future, but it fits for today from my heart to yours:

Loss is Loss

Death comes in many forms
Death can be tragic
Death can be anticipated
Regardless, when a loved one passes
whether human or pet
loss is loss
hearts still break open
tears fall until
there are no more
stages of grief
call us and we answer
submitting to erratic emotions
to heaviness in heart and limbs
to wondering if the sun will rise again
and no matter what triggers the pain
we must offer ourselves grace…
to grieve as we should
to mourn as days unfold
Loss is loss shattering us
into tiny pieces of uncertainty
until the healing of time
brings those pieces back together.

© Lauren Scott

Sister love
Brother love
Copper loved getting outdoors, whether
for a walk in the neighborhood, or on
the trail.
Young Copper soon after adopting him.

© Lauren Scott, BaydreamerWrites.com – All rights reserved.
This blog content cannot be used to train AI.

Thank you for ‘being there’ for me and my family, and I look forward to reading your wonderful posts again. And if you have a dog or cat, give them a hug for me. ❤️

168 thoughts on “One week ago from today…”

    1. I’m glad, Jacqui, and writing has helped me get through. I appreciated Resa’s advice. I don’t know how we got through the week, and then our first weekend without him. Everything triggers our emotions. 😭

  3. That last picture should be blown up and hung on a wall, what a shot ! The poem is fantastic Lauren. Have the best day possible and know he is wagging his tail at you from Doggy Heaven.

    1. Thanks so much, Ernie. My daughter took that photo. She and our son took many amazing Copper photos, and I’ll probably work on compiling a collage. We already have several of him on the walls, but there is no limit to love. Thank you for the uplifting words too. ❤️🙏

  5. petespringer's avatar petespringerauthor

    My friend, Bill, a lifelong fellow dog-lover, once said something to me about the love for our dogs that stuck with me. “Of course, I’m going to be sad for a long time. Maggie was my best friend for 13 years. As bad as I feel right now, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if I could.”

    Using writing as therapy is a good choice, Lauren.

  6. Your poem touched me deeply, Lauren. When I lost my husband I experienced every bit of that and even after 15 years, the emotions can still erupt as if it were just yesterday. Hugs!

    1. Thanks so much, Jan, and I can’t imagine what you have gone through. We all will at some time. Life can be so tough. I understand how even after many years emotions can still erupt. I appreciate the hugs and send some back for you! ❤️

  8. What a touching poem Lauren. 🙏🏼 Knowing that your hearts are heavy, continue to wrap yourself in the love that Copper brought you. You remain in our thoughts! 🤗💖😊

      1. My little Boston crossed the bridge a year ago. I’d had him 14 years. He was truly special. It took me a long time to get better but now I think about all the adorable things he did. They have such personalities!
        Sending you love and hugs 🤗

  13. Thank you for sharing your beautiful poem and photos of your beloved dog. On my phone, a memory popped up from two years ago this week, spreading Mom’s ashes. The grief comes in waves, just like sets of waves at the beach. I gave you a shout out along with my other blogger/author friends today on my post.

    1. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem and photos, Elizabeth. Grief is sneaky, isn’t it? Sorry about your mom’s passing too. We still get emotional thinking of all of our parents who have passed. I’ll check out your post, and thanks in advance. And thanks for your lovely comment. ❤️

      1. My daughter lost a friend after college to suicide. My daughter gave me the sets of waves analogy. Grief is a part of life, but it is tough. Thanks for the comment about my mom.

      4. It was shocking for them and for my husband and I. I think our kids experienced more death in high school and college years than my husband and I ever did. Their peers passing, and young adults in their 40s that we knew. I’m sure Covid was tough…

  14. Your poem is beautiful Lauren ❤️ thank you for sharing.
    As the title says, Loss is Loss 😪
    Give yourself time my friend and hold on to those precious memories.
    Lots of love and big hugs too 🥰🙏🥰

    1. Thanks for your lovely comment, Maggie. Over the weekend, I compiled a chapbook of poems, some old, some new about Copper. Writing down everything truly helps. Thank you so much, my friend. Love and hugs to you too! ❤️🙏

      1. Aww how lovely Lauren 🙏 that is a good way to remember him.
        Yes, writing I believe should be on prescription .
        It really is very cathartic.
        Look after yourself lovely lady.
        Lots of love always 🥰🤗🥰

    1. Thanks so much, Cindy, and well said, my friend. With the kids not living at home and our senior pup not around anymore, the house has been too quiet. But we are all blessed to have had the time together. ❤️

  17. I fell into a deep depression when my cat developed cancer. We hospiced him and then finally put him down. It was so hard to let go! He was my everything. I still cry.

    1. Oh, Dawn, I’m so sorry to hear about your cat! We had to put Copper down and that is one of the hardest decisions we had to make. Everything changed for the worse last weekend and into Monday morning. But if we didn’t do it, he would’ve suffered. So every time we second-guessed ourselves last week and into the weekend, we were reminded of our love and compassion for him. The thought of him suffering was unbearable. But it was still so hard, like you know. Hugs to you. ❤️

  20. One of your best poems ever Lauren, in my opinion. (I love the advice to “fall on your pen”. Am going to remember that – and do it!)
    Continuing to think of you, and sending more love and hugs to all of you. ❤️🥀❤️🥀❤️

    1. Thanks so much, Betty! I compiled a chapbook of Copper poems over the weekend, some old, and some new about grief. It was good therapy for me. I love Resa’s “fall on your pen” and I’m glad you do too. Thanks for your thoughts and love and hugs for all of us. Truly appreciated. Hugs back to you too! ❤️🙏❤️

  31. Sorry for your loss, Lauren! It was wonderful Copper came into your lives and stayed for 13 full years. He looked lovely and happy with your family. Your poem is a great tribute to him.

  36. Sureness, I’ll hug Virgo for you, Lauren. Copper, hug you goodbye, but you’ll always remain in our hearts. Love and hugs to you, Lauren.

  41. Yes loss is loss Lauren and grief is always a tough road to walk. Your poem is really beautiful and we can feel your pain, and yet your hope that one day you’ll have wonderful memories to share, the pain will be less intense.

    Sending you and your family much much love and keeping you in my prayers. So each day is a bit easier than the previous one.

    🧡🧡

  47. So tough, Lauren. Your love shines through. And I couldn’t help but think as I read your poem, Copper was one very lucky, well loved friend, who was ever so lucky to be part of your family.

  48. Lauren, I’m sorry for your family’s loss. Those pieces of advice from your daughter and Resa are really good. That’s a touching poem. I hope writing it and other stuff is helping you. And truly, it can take much more than a couple days to adjust. I’m not wild about the phrase “moving on.” Loved ones continue to be with us in treasured memories for a long time. 🙏

    1. Thanks for your comforting words, Dave. Writing has been very helpful, but some of what I wrote has brought a new flood of tears too. This is life. I agree with your words about ‘moving on’. We never really move on. We move forward, but our loved ones stay with us through memories and in our hearts. I think I need to edit my post to ‘moving forward’ instead, and I appreciate your thoughts. Everything I’ve done in the last week or so has been a blur. Thanks again. ❤️🙏

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