Polygon, 3 or more sides. Hexagon, 6 sides. Octagon, 8 sides. Poppygon, multiple sides. Whilst I bother, somewhat, with all the other gons, which never got a mention, I can’t go with that thing just now. I look out at her grave, the fresh earth light and obviously from the deeps. That is where she is right now, deep and dead. My wee companion, the dog I fought not to have, became my love. She insisted on walks, her time clock set for 2pm, and, no matter that I really needed rest after her waking me at two, three, four, am for a going out that resulted in nothing more than barks at the stars, she would still dance around my hopefully sleeping form, lifting me into action. I confess, I do, that irritation was arising in me, and I hated that. So, I watched her dance, looked into her huge brown eyes that looking like a piercing, the wild in her and it would smile me. Okay, I said, let’s go, and the dance became a fiesta, her watching me rise, the excited twirling, her making sure I decant the stairs, pull on boots and jacket and then she would bounce and huff and bark with excitement until I was finally prepped. Holding out her collar and lead, I suggested, with my open palm, for her to sit. I could see her arse jig. She managed an inch above the mat, so excited, to be out there with me. I know it was walking with me, her thing, because others had invited her for a walk before, sans me, and found her resistant, looking back. She was mine, and I was hers.

Buried, she was yesterday. My friend, the vet, came softly and sweet. The ground was frozen. I’ll bury her for you, she said, and she did. I could never have done that, don’t have that strength anymore. I ordered Poppy tubers to plant above her. They’ll arrive soon. A remembergon. I see her big brown eyes and the looking of them. Her beds and rugs and food and snacks are now moved on. Needs must, on those sudden sharp jerks. But, when I walk, without her, I still look back for her, running behind me, having sniffed a gazillion things I just walked past without a care, and I say, hallo, my poppygon.