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Easing The Pain

We hardly know her,

a pleasant young woman

just recently taken to

walking her two small

Scotch terriers in the

woods, a place we

frequent daily.  She has

noted the absence of one

of our little dogs, and

tells us she believes in

the healing process of

discussing the death of a 

beloved pet to ease the pain.

One of us explains quietly

how devastating it has been

for us to lose the presence

of our decades-long companion.

He does not speak of the gloom

and longing that has settled

over us, or the long, fond

shared memories.  He does,

however, add that we have 

found it painful, not easeful,

to speak of our loss.  He says

all this while the other weeps.