Dog

When I was 11
We got a dog
A beautiful black poodle
I named him Jazz
After my favourite game at the time

I loved him to bits
And played with him every day
But one day I came home
And he wasn’t there

I walked around the home
Calling out his name
Jazz! Jazz! Jazz!
And when I asked Mum where he was
She said: ‘He’s gone. I couldn’t afford him.’
And that’s when we cried together

I’m 31 now
So Jazz is long gone
I just wish I’d been able to
Say goodbye