A Dog's Life
Old Kos is gone
Shadow of Bernie Rish Long-time companion Ate from the same dish Drank from the same tap Plodded the same stairs The old black Lab Now beyond prayers Before he died He would meet my eye Press his glossy side Against my thigh Patient he would stand Unable to tell My listening hand Where to make him well So Kos has gone And Suky quietly killed By a vet’s injection When I was unskilled - at ten - in taking care Of my Terrier and Dad Let her run everywhere Like dogs he once had Pained I look back - Dad’s birthday surprise The rescue dog whose lack Of training and wild eyes He couldn’t handle. Years Of boasting and bluff Ended in shock and tears When he had enough No dog for me Only the neighbour’s pet - Tiny tearaway Sally, Little Blossom who met A rose-bush at a run that blinded her, calm black Chelsea the famous one Who guides our Nicky back Bobbie (a Pisces) Our Kent Guide-dog friend Shared her Callie’s crises Their happy end The smell of soft puppies A mother’s melting eyes Amid warm apple trees And holy skies And once in a while A visitor - like the stray Called Lady a real trial The Lurcher had run away Lived with us for a week Tail tucked in eyes white Unable to sleep or speak For sheer fright An aged Retriever Came on holiday - Christine would leave her When she went to stay In France, Goa, Japan, On fashionable flights To boost her tan And see the sights I loved old Amber Didn’t mind the hair On the carpet - fed her Walked her everywhere Polished her gold coat Coaxed vital medicine Down her throat We couldn’t win Old Amber’s gone She who was nearly mine Left me with one Beautiful photograph a line Or two in an old diary Her Leo birth chart and The moment she bit me - Angry - on the hand. No dog for me No dawn exercise Haven’t the energy Wouldn’t be very wise But now just a glance At Poppy, Wallis, Betsan, And up they dance - I give what I can Walking the beach Poodles, Staffies, Springers Strain at the lead to reach My burning fingers Burdened with love for them When did it start? Did Kent or Bethlehem Break into my heart? I am a healer’s wife Touching a Dog’s Life |