One who loved and was loved...
August 6, 2017 2:34 PM   Subscribe

I need an epitaph for a dog. Must be 15-25 characters to fit on a copper disc to be placed where I scatter her ashes. Quotes from works of all sorts and creeds are fine, but space is limited. Would like something dog worthy. (Whatever that means...)

She died five years ago, so thank for your condolences, but I'm fine. However, it has come time to let go of what remains of her mortal coil and move on with my life. I plan to place a copper disc, 3" in diameter, where I scatter her ashes. Her name was Ilsa, if that helps.
posted by 1f2frfbf to Pets & Animals (22 answers total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
Maybe an excerpt from Kipling's The Power of the Dog poem?
posted by schroedingersgirl at 2:39 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


ILSA:
BEST
FRIEND
posted by Lyn Never at 2:45 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]


ILSA:
TRUE
COMPANION
posted by jessamyn at 2:49 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


One last jump, my Ilsa
posted by jamjam at 2:54 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]


If I were to do this for my pet I would simply say Good Girl because that's what she hears from me the most.
posted by kapers at 2:57 PM on August 6, 2017 [15 favorites]


ILSA
OUR GOOD GIRL
[and/or years of birth and death]
posted by Countess Elena at 2:58 PM on August 6, 2017 [5 favorites]


She loved truly.
posted by amtho at 3:03 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Who’s a good dog? Ilsa!
posted by sheldman at 3:12 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Ilsa loved and was loved.
posted by Mistress at 3:14 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]


Firmest friend, Ilsa.
posted by drlith at 3:25 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]


Since I always tell my pets that they are the "Best Girl" that's what I would use.
Ilsa: Best Girl (with lifespan years if there's space)
posted by bookmammal at 3:49 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


ILSA
She Was
A Good Dog
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:49 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


ILSA
now
runs
free
posted by momochan at 4:02 PM on August 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


We are coming up on the one-year anniversary of the day we euthanized our sweet Gus. A friend recently shared this poem with me. Perhaps something from it will inspire you?
The moon comes up.
The moon goes down.
This is to inform you
that I didn’t die young.
Age swept past me
but I caught up.
Spring has begun here and each day
brings new birds up from Mexico.
Yesterday I got a call from the outside
world but I said no in thunder.
I was a dog on a short chain
and now there’s no chain.

Barking by Jim Harrison
posted by Brittanie at 4:04 PM on August 6, 2017 [11 favorites]


Ilsa
Good Dog
2000-2012

Says everything that needs saying, in my opinion.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 4:31 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


Ilsa loved
me and I
loved Ilsa

The second line could be "us and we" if that's more appropriate.
posted by carmicha at 4:36 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


I like "Left no ball unchased."

Switching gears, you could also go back to ancient Rome maybe? The full epitaph is too long, but you could extract a bit from it possibly, like "soul without comparison". Here is the full thing: "To Helena, foster child, soul without comparison and deserving of praise." (From here, p. 29).
posted by gudrun at 4:41 PM on August 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


I
Loved.
She
Adored.
posted by Mchelly at 4:57 PM on August 6, 2017 [6 favorites]


It's a long shot as far as pulling a quote from it goes, but the Albert Payson Terhune poem on this page (originally printed in Buff: A Collie) is a lovely old-fashioned tribute to lost canine companions; it's in a similar vein to the Kipling poem linked above. I used a longer excerpt in my dog's memorial slideshow.
posted by Carouselle at 6:13 PM on August 6, 2017 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: Thank you all for contributing. I have found what I am looking for, but I'm not marking a best answer because I appreciate all the answers, but I have given you all a favorite because invisible internet points and whatnot. None of you met her, but now, you are all part of her story, and I thank you. Tomorrow, I (we) shall take a final ride and say goodbye to my friend for the final time*.

And so it goes. Thank you all, again.

*Not really the last time... There are pinches of her ashes in my ceramic glazes and she shall be in the studio with me in spirit for a while yet...
posted by 1f2frfbf at 6:58 PM on August 6, 2017 [9 favorites]


Reading these suggestions... I got dust in my eyes somehow.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:29 PM on August 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


Me too
posted by Chairboy at 12:47 PM on August 7, 2017 [1 favorite]


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