Not now, they said, the puppy so happy, chasing around the room. 

The nose was tiny, the snoring so quiet, the puppy still able to zoom

Not now, they said, the year thereafter, the Frenchie now fully grown

the snoring was present, but she was still active and the breathing is well known

Not now, they said, when the breathing got noisy, we have other issues at home

Not now, they said, when she got less active, but ‘soon it will be done’

Not now, they said, when she started struggling, ‘the surgery worries us’’

Not now, they said, when things got more stressful. Not now, the time isn’t right

Once it was money, once it was time, always something else to discuss

for year after year as the breathing worsened, the snoring so heavy at night

And then the day came, when she collapsed

and they rushed her in at night

she was fighting for breath with fear in her eyes

and an expression full of distress

On oxygen she couldn’t breathe, her heart was struggling now

the tongue so blue, the eyes so wide, the fear was all about

Doctor, they said, that surgery, to help her to breathe?

Not now, the vet said, a sad smile on the face, for now we can give no relief

The heart is too weak, the health long gone,

aneasthesia  would be too much

We will try to help with oxygen,

To stabilise her such

Not now, they begged, when nothing helped and suffering was long

Not now, we want a little more time, she cannot yet be gone

Yet nothing helped, eyes full fear, the fight for every breath

no other way to give relief but through the way of death