Poems on the Loss of a Pet
The death of a pet can be difficult for an individual or family. Mourners sometimes have difficulty expressing their grief. Fortunately, poetry can express what regular words cannot, and reading poetry at pet funerals has become as common as readings at funerals for people. Poetry might also be sent to mourners as an expression of sympathy.
Other People Are Reading
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Pet Poems Online
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A wide variety of pet loss poems are available on the Internet. Many are contemporary, so you won't need to worry about antiquated language and words that we no longer use. Some poems are written by famous authors or are lyrics to famous songs. Others are written by everyday pet owners in an effort to express their grief and help others through the grieving process.
Just for Dogs
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The loss of "man's best friend" can strike as a particular tragedy. Poets write a lot about their dogs, both living and dead. Websites like Dogster include special poetry sections. Poetry books written about dogs include "Dog Poems" by Dave Crawley and Tamara Petrosino, "Doggerel: Poems About Dogs" by Carmela Ciuraru and "Animal Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Our Pets" by June Cotner.
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Classic Poems About Loss
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Poems about death in general can also be used for pet funerals and personal grieving. Classic poets that you might remember reading in high school or college have timeless messages about loss. Shelley's "Bereavement" is about mourning and "Death" by W.B. Yeats compares the dying of animals to the dying of humans in its first four lines. Benjamin Franklin's "Death is a Fisherman" is an extended metaphor describing death. Emily Bronte's "Remembrance" beautifully expresses the sense of grief and loss that is felt by those left behind.
Writing Poetry
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Sometimes the best way to express your feelings of loss is to write about them. Many mourners write poetry about their pets and their feelings of grief at their deaths. A poem does not have to rhyme or even have much of a rhythm. You could write a poem in free or blank verse, a prose poem, or a traditional form like a sonnet or a Haiku. The Poetry Foundation offers a variety of resources to assist visitors in the study, reading and writing of poetry.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit a cemetery for pets. Balance in shape image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
