Stone Soup

Where young artists paint the world with words

The international magazine of stories, poems, and art by young writers and artists. Published continuously since 1973.

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My Dog

I look at him
My dog
Head on tiny white paws,
Breathing heavily.
He looks back at me
His eyes sad
As if to say, “Come to me,”
So I do.
Then I
Stroke his head quietly
And he closes his eyes,
His breathing deep
Raspy
And tired.
He is small, sick, and old
But right now he is with me.
So I give him a kiss
And let him snore.

My Dog Abby Shaffer
Abby Shaffer, 12
Riverside, California