To My Faithful Companion, Apollo

We stand here together, my old friend, as we

Have stood for such a long, long time, me in my

69^th year and you in your 15^th. Chihuahuas are

Known to live a good long time as dogs’ lives

Go. In your younger years, had you gotten loose

From your leash, you would have seized the op-

portunity to run away from me, but it would have

Been all in good fun. And I would have given chase

Until you decided to relent and let me catch you.

Ah, my how times have changed. You are in your

15^th year, too old and arthritic to run anymore;

I in my 69^th, likewise stiffened and worn from head

To toe, too tired to give chase. The time for such

Spirited games is over for the two of us. Now, my

Old friend, we stand here side-by-side, connected

Though all the years, bound to one another by a

Faithful camaraderie, secured for the rest of our

Days by the taut and inescapable leash of old age.

Chris Hanch  7-18-15