---

Amelia Fielden

And Yet, This Choice

the tedium 
of household shopping . . .
list ticked off                                         
I'm floating my thoughts
beyond the supermarket

“How are you today ?” asks the middle-aged checkout chick mechanically. 

“I’m fine, how are you?” I respond.     

 Picking up my packet of turkey mince, she bursts into tears. “I’m just wondering if my dog will still be alive when I get home after this shift.” 

The line formed behind me hastily moves to another counter, while I listen. I learn that she has a rescue pooch, Orlando, who is now old and infirm. He was moving around when she had to leave for work but seemed very weak. “Um, the vet? ” I suggest.

“No, if I take him to the vet’s, they’ll only want to put him down. I rescued him. I can’t put my boy to sleep, not yet.” 

 All I can do is whisper. “You’ll know when the time is right.” And give her a hug.   

Neither of us says have a great day.

we can do
for our beloved pets
what we cannot do
for our people                                         
and yet, this choice . . .                                    

---

About the Author

Amelia Fielden is Australian. She is a professional Japanese translator and a keen writer of traditional Japanese forms of poetry in English. Her most recent collection is These Purple Years (Ginninderra Press, 2018).