A LETTER TO MY DOG, EXPLORING THE HUMAN CONDITION

Andrea Gibson performs "A LETTER TO MY DOG, EXPLORING THE HUMAN CONDITION"
Video by Avery Hudson.
Music by The Album Leaf.

[@amandakash1109]

I just lost my baby this morning and came here immediately. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@enavarre10]

I lost my Stella today, this poem changed entirely for me today. The ache is unforgiving, but her unconditional love towards me will help me through even after she’s gone

[@SilverFlame819]

I have seen this a bajillion times, and it STILL makes me cry. Damn you.

[@rekatoth9931]

My hedgehog, Szaffi died in lymphoma December 1st, and every time I listen to this I fall into tears. Especially the part "The most important thing I have ever built is your trust" cause she was really afraid of everyone except from me. She means so much to me. I was bullied in my old school, and I "got" her when I went to high school so every time I felt anxious because of my new class I talked to her. It was one of the hardest part of my life to let her go.

[@TheMisfit291]

I watched this after my beautiful Salem crossed the Rainbow Bridge. My heart was broken far beyond repair but Andrea you helped me get through it

[@beyhancagritrock3189]

Ah... you made me cry. Because my passion for my Hero is that strong. My connection so pure. And now I know it's not just me... and it's not crazy to love a dog this much. Thanks so much for this...

[@ilhancagri723]

This was so poignant and powerful.

[@elizabethbennet4791]

I worship my cat. She literally follows me throughout the house, every single place I go. Shower? She waits outside. Gardening on the patio? There she is slowly trotting and yawning from her nap. Making coffee, there she is running in like a racehorse to sit in the corner and watch me :D

[@ningyding]

Glad you love this as much as I do Beyhan!!!!!!

[@beyhancagritrock3189]

@@ningyding Wow. I wrote that 7 years ago! And it still makes me cry.

[@counseling3863]

So beautiful... You are so gifted AND love the little ones too. My dream come true.

[@jillymarie67]

Every animal adopted saves the life of three, the one adopted, the one that now has room, and the human who gets rescued by the one adopted. xo

[@oalexson6323]

I’ve loved you for 12 years as a poet. You will missed ❤

[@rl3199]

Today we lost our Ginger to a disease. We didn't know that our Ginger was in pain and it was too late when we realised. It was our miracle fur ball, the best thing that ever happened to our family. Maybe il never understand why it was taken from us too soon... 💔 But one thing for sure, its at dog heaven where there is no pain .. running over the rainbow bridge, getting all the butt scratch and belly rubs it wants... Dear Ginger you were deeply loved. You will be missed. ❤️

[@aliceomalley378]

Aaaaaaaaand now I'm broken. All of Andreas poems give me the feels, but this made me sob! My dog has literally saved my life, and she never demands gratitude

[@chazlightyear6687]

Wow Andrea reached into my heart and took out all the right words. I absolutely adore my dogs.

[@MagisSpero]

i lost it at the bathtub part i love Andrea Gibson's work so much

[@kafkaseyebrows]

this poem makes me cry every single day, it's just beyond beautiful and squash is precious

[@lipsticklady1983]

Marley & me broke me, I cry more in films/tv if something happens to the dogs over the humans 🙈 A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. From 3.33 on 👏 it's like the rhythm changed, became way more emotional, or maybe I just did 😢 "I don’t know how I will ever make peace with the shortness of your life span, but I promise to make sure you know you are so loved every second you are here" 💔 wow that got me 😭🥺 one of life's cruelties, that our dogs 💙 have such a short life span. I got my first dog (king charles - gizmo) for my 11th Birthday and he lived for 15 years, there's been a few but loosing him was probably one of my hardest goodbyes, dogs are just part of my soul like an extra limb that I can't live without and eventhough I was 💔 after, I knew I would always have to have a dog in my life, my second king charles-Ziggy who I got a few months after, maybe it's because I was older when I got him but I appreciate him so much more, I just adore him (borderline obsessive) 😂 he is probably the most photographed dog on the planet, I have the camera roll to prove it 😏 well he is now 10, and I live in fear of anything happening to him, inevitably I know the day will come, but no matter what, no time on earth is long enough to share with the animals we love, or prepare our hearts to say goodbye. Even now, especially now throughout this covid pandemic, I have been working as a frontline worker and I am so thankful for him, he really has gotten me through it, he has been my constant companion my favourite hello in the evening & my hardest goodbye in the morning. To come home in the evenings 😴 after a shitty long day 😷 and be greeted by his happy face & wagging tail that unconditional love that only a dog can have-that's the best feeling. Ok last Quote I promise- My sunshine doesn't come from the skies, it comes from the love that's in my dogs eyes 😍 sad but true 🙈😂 every night I say to him bonne nuit, mon petit ami or sometimes mon chéri 😘 cause clearly he understands French 😋

[@meredithsickel2709]

Andrea's videos (this video specifically, but for the most part, all of them) are the only videos (that I've seen) in the history of KZbin that never have even one single offensive/negative/derogatory comment. Pretty incredible when you think about it....her words are amazing enough to disarm even the most heartless video trolls...

[@zephlyn9498]

add my tears to the cauldron with every body else's ...yep i get it! you are spot on! thank you.

[@dales-studio]

I strongly doubt there's anyone better than Andrea Gibson... I doubt it a hundred times. I will bet my life it

[@machaelallen6283]

Humans have issues. A dog will love you unconditionally lick away your tears, be happy to see you,be there for you. The more I get to know some people the more I love my dogs. AMEN ANDREA AMEN!

[@animaljammerrares6301]

I absolutely love what was written there and the passion behind it thank you so much for sharing this

[@Spazmo5000]

I'm a 39 year old male metalhead that owns an Amstaff. I cried watching this. Beautiful!

[@katdbass]

Speechless! So beautiful, thank you!!!!

[@anmahek]

God, I love what you write. I love your poetry. I love hearing you when you let those feelings flow and make my feelings come all over me. Thank you.

[@julia.parker]

Well somehow I decided it was a good idea to watch this on my break but now im crying lol BACK 2 WORK

[@crackedlens1]

Andrea Gibson + Animal Protection + Doggy Love = Breathless.

[@bethann2378]

For some reason this is one of the pieces I had not watched of Andrea's.. and fuck, it hurts. I just lost my baby, my love, and my heart, and my soulmate this month. I still haven't had a day where I can breathe normally without him. I miss him so much. My darling bubby, my connection to the world who always helped fight the demons and darkness away. My Addison Lee, who made everything bipolar throws at me a little bit better, since he taught me all I had to do was lay on the ground and he would bring me back to reality. How when I became disabled at 22, it just meant we had more time to spend together; no more "real world" problems of jobs and homework and never having money for gas. Just us. And every other single thing he did in his miraculous 12 years as my love and shadow. I wish I could be where he was. I miss him more every single day. Thank you for this beautiful poem. It makes me cry, but just because it hits home. Squash sounds so special. To all of our four legged hearts~ ♡

[@TaliaGolden]

"My beating heart, with fur and legs."❤

[@jessica0321]

I always refer to my super super adult dog as "my little heart with legs"...otherwise known as Bodhi aka Bodhi Eckhart Kimbriel (yes, he has a middle name), Bodhi-Doo, Doo, Monkey, Monks, Bodhi-licious (he's so delicious, he aint promiscuous), and chooch or chooch-a-reeno, chooch-a-roni (a San Francisco chooch). I pray a lot these days while I try to memorize his little face and how it feels to hold him in my arms, but I know it will never be enough. It's comforting to be reminded that I'm not alone in navigating a love like this. ❤

[@stitcheslove]

omg I am crying right now. This. This. Everything about this.

[@ExpatPumpkin]

My heart, my heart, my heart... Breathtakingly beautiful.

[@RamanGevargiss]

I am crying here after watching this beautiful, brilliant , heart warming video ! Thanks well worth it,

[@rottndobie]

With tears as I write this. So powerful, so true. Thank you.

[@AtomicNumber83]

My heart, my heart, my heart.

[@ThugMuffinification]

She just continues to get more and more amazing. I am in awe in how deep her words can touch my heart. Amazing.

[@jamieblack9134]

I cry every time I hear this!

[@tamarahubbard9906]

I am absolutely moved beyond words and so I cry ♥ Thank you

[@rurugby]

This is beautiful. Andrea Gibson is amazing.

[@riverwalker7895]

Andrea, you should perform this when you come to Phoenix in September! Absolutely love.

[@skailight8]

Andrea and Squash, you made the most beautiful video. I don't think I have ever seen a more perfect pair than the two of you. Thank you for such beauty.

[@Shmoo06]

I can't stop watching this video.

[@HappyHealthyPup]

This makes me so incredibly happy every time I watch it! Thank you. Keep on keeping on Squish Squash til you don't stop.

[@HealingInsideMyMind]

This made me miss my dog more!!

[@MillysFizz]

*tears* So beautiful.

[@SilverFlame819]

Here I am, years later, still sharing this video. So fucking gorgeous.

[@lolosofli]

I cried! I'm so glad I adopted hamlet! Love my fur-baby!

[@lmatthews44]

Loved it! And, thank you for using your talent to reach people about adopting shelter dogs. ;)

[@dlta9thc]

This is so beautiful.

[@karenpearlman4547]

LOVE this

[@annetterable]

So beautiful! Thank you.

[@kellymcdermott7827]

My heart. Thank you.

[@RainbowSprnklz]

Thanks for sharing this, its truly beautiful

[@rikiritter]

I shared this with my Maisie who watched the phone as you spoke and looked into my eyes which immediately began to leak because everything you said was 100 percent true. Maisie says Good job, Andrea.

[@222nela222]

damn i want to be loved like this doggie is loved

[@stitcheslove]

Then get a dog, because a dog will love you unconditionally, no matter what, always, until the day they die.

[@Julia-xz4si]

Welll this really hit the spot! *sobbing and hugging my dog*

[@faithcombs6710]

This is my FAVORITE poem ❤ your words are truely amazing.

[@Auburbanite]

Brilliant Andrea. Miss you.

[@nojo54]

Absolutely Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

[@SilverFlame819]

This is AMAZING.

[@TenaMoore]

I love it! So wonderful! Made me get all teary.

[@MaxWriter]

This is amazing. You are amazing. Thank you so much.

[@AffinityPetServices]

Simply divine MommaDog, the cherry on top was your shelter pet info

[@brandonjoseph1489]

Charlotte Tunstall Pearce d

[@stitchilalu]

So wonderful. So beautifully said

[@ladyfaithanne]

This is beautiful

[@cynhanrahan4012]

Squasharooni Gibson, my old Princess is very happy you have taken up the cause of vacuum murder. And keeping the world safe from the mailman, you know some day he really could just kill us all. Lovey, I am so happy Andrea found you!

[@THEMAX31313]

Beautiful....:' )

[@Jikan04]

Everything I feel for my own 'little bundle' all wrapped into five minutes.

[@ronchan182]

it is really grieving😭😭😭

[@lizmedrano286]

Thank you Thank you Thank you

[@MrTerrierLove]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@kimh20]

Damn, I miss my little Barney.

[@kathiemudge9644]

One of the most beautiful videos I've ever seen. Hats off to you.

[@twogreatest]

perfectly true, so amazing.

[@reclaimingkatie]

This..... is the answer to everything.

[@ukyopoon]

Hi, Thanks for the very touching poem , I'm working on the translation of this poetry to chinese, can i ask for the permission to re-post it ? Sure will link back to this video.

[@RickLevine]

Brilliant!

[@rurugby]

Beautiful.

[@Freethesnowglobes.]

I'm crying

[@du041248]

Fantastic

[@brittneyhaslett8772]

Amazing poem n Poet!

[@PrincessOPD_Utah]

👏👏👏

[@levyelliot5648]

This is one of my favorites. It's hard for me, being away from my home (and my Lab who I raised from the time she was a puppy) for so often-- for college in a year, and for whatever other silly opportunities before then, study abroads, school tours-- I never get over being sad over the fact that she can't come with me-- because she doesn't deserve to be left behind, but she is OK, because she gets to keep playing catch with my family anyway, and I guess that's what matters.

[@AmandaSmith-mw8sk]

Uhhh my heart strings and soaked eyeballs 3 described my love for my Riley J dog to a tee 3

[@therealmekk]

I want all the doggies now!

[@EveRussellsrsly]

She found the words. I didn't know the words existed, but she found them.

[@firstautumn]

Dear squash Aka squashy Aka squishy Aka squasharooni Gibson Aka squish squash and you don’t stop Aka miracle button Aka little perfect peanut Aka my beating heart with fur and legs I know you think it’s insane that I still poop in the house That I choose to wear underwear and pants giving no one the opportunity to smell my true disposition That on the days I need to feel better about myself I don’t just pee on someone’s pee Don’t worry. I am not fooled by my thumbs I know I am not the tadpole’s final project I know I am not the last species evolution hopes to become I can’t even swallow my own pride long enough to let myself drool when something smells delicious What must you think of my mirror face Or how much of my day I spend practicing my butch voice My baby-I’ll-fix-your-carburetor-with-my-tool-kit voice when you know full well there is nothing in my tool kit besides a massive collection of self help books that have helped me do nothing but feng shui the skeletons in my closet Don’t you just love how that femur accents the sofa set, squash I’m sorry I cry every time I take you to the vet I’m sorry they take your temperature like that I’m sorry I take you there when you’ve only got a bug bite Humans hold so tight to the leash of life but you will roll in anything dead and wear it like perfume I wish I had your nose for eternity I wish I could see what you see Where the squirrels satan your eyes Where the postman deserves to die even when he’s not bringing bills What’s with hating the shadow the peace lily makes on the floor in the living room? I know I let you down everyday I choose not to murder the vacuum Is it bad that I refuse to teach you to not be afraid of men Is it bad that I want you to keep your bite and your snarl and your gleaming teeth Is it bad that when they call you a risk, I call you a feminist You never make fun of your friend Chloe’s underbite Or your friend willow’s limp Or your friend Harvey’s past trouble with the law You never criticize me for being too uptight to let my hair down even though you can let yours all the way out All over my black hoody, my black pants, the couch, the car, the chair, the online merch store that sells my books and tee-shirts wrote me a letter saying “we can’t continue to sell your products if they continue to be covered in so much of your dog’s hair" I just assumed anything covered in you would increase in value Remember when I told that woman I loved her and whispered in your ear “you’re my number one girl” it’s true If I could I would put your beating heart in my mouth and suck on it like a piece of candy so I could finally understand how you got so sweet I know my therapist likes you more than she likes me And I still let you sleep on her couch You taught me a good nap is the best therapy You taught me to sit when I damn well want to sit I don’t care that you never talk about capitalism or patriarchy or the heteronormative hegemonic paradigm I know you’re saving the world every time you get poo stuck in your butt hair and you don’t go looking for someone to blame Speaking of looking for someone I can’t imagine what you think of sex I can’t tell if you think it’s a slobbering badly boundaried belly rub or a poorly aimed fist fight You just perch on the end of the bed and tilt your head back and forth Wondering why I still haven’t taken my pants off I have issues, Squash Humans have issues We dig holes to bury our own hearts We chew on our own bones We escape the predators but still can’t shake them off Some of us wear our own bodies the way your friend Berlin wore that cone around her head, remember? So embarrassed, but I never had a better teacher that came to my own spirit than you Never had a reason to stop playing dead until the day I saw your little face at the shelter Your little nose pressed against the cold glass, staring up at me like I was a gay Noah’s ark My heart My heart My heart Every time I give you a treat, you run around the house looking for a place to hide it until you finally come to where I am sitting and hide it directly under me The most important thing I have ever built in my whole life is your trust May you always feel entitled to more than your fair share of the bed May you always tear the stuffing out of every toy I give you So I can constantly be reminded to keep spilling my guts To keep saying I don’t know how I will ever make peace with the shortness of your life span But I promise to make sure you know you are so loved every second you are here You know my hands will build the sturdiest ark they possibly can To hold your holy howl and your holy bark and your holy beg Squasharooni Gibson My little perfect peanut My beating heart with fur and legs

[@AmethystWoman]

Luca, aka petunia aka petunny aka little one aka sweetie, loves this.

[@wakingtheworld]

Wow as ever, Andrea. I'm veggie but you just don't get to the bone of whatever subject you explore, you get to its marrow. A moving dedication to fur on legs.

[@miss415x]

Wow! That was really awesome!

[@scoobyreed22]

Amazing i love this!

[@kevinhorn4219]

This is beautiful!! Now off to find some Kleenex and give my pups the biggest hug they have ever gotten.

[@ukyopoon]

給狗狗的信, 探索人類狀況

[@joycesims1757]

yes! perfectly expressed...every line

[@RedBoneLibra]

#Perfect

[@authorgirlpetparent]

OH! MY! DOG!

[@Rocean626]

You are amazing. how great! Love is Love!

[@anitaarguello851]

Hides her bone under you 😭♥️

[@MzJsweet83]

just how i feel about my dogs

[@Iamshawn53]

same here. I adore dogs

[@googlydede279]

Totally unexpected , ;-)

[@JessicaVanderhoff]

I don't know how I'll ever come to peace with your short lifespan. . . I'll build the best arc I can. . . . Amen. Amen. Amen. But, obligatory dog behavior nerd response: when she explodes at men, she's experiencing stress and fear. Say "yep!" in a happy voice and toss a really good treat when she sees someone she's afraid of. Even if she ignores it and growls, it will work! And practice small separations- praise and pats when she ventures away- having her in the bedroom sabotages intimacy.

[@irmaisrad]

my goodness this makes me feel guilty for giving up going vegan. Animals are so beautiful in every single way.