The Written Word

I would like to share with your readers this tribute to a much loved pet. Sadly he died last August.

Debbie Fortnum
annets@ntlworld.com
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/annets/lucky/lucky.html

'Lucky'

Wire walled pens with concrete floors, held dogs of every size Some barked and some just paced around, all with big 'take me home' eyes

How could we choose? How would we know? Each one looked so alone And every single one of them deserved a loving home

But then we saw him leaping high, the scruffiest, and the last We were hooked, he'd chosen us ... "Take ME" he said "And FAST"

You should have seen him leave that place, his head held high with pride He'd waited weeks for us to come, to walk us by his side

He sniffed around his brand new home, was watered and was fed Then at last he fell asleep, in the middle of OUR bed

The days turned weeks, the weeks to months, the months to love filled years We laughed when he was full of fun, when ill we shed our tears

Some say that dogs depend on us, but that belief is thin For us the truth was simply this ... we relied on him

His years grew long, his whiskers grey, his pace got slow ... then slower Until one day we knew he'd reached his last and final hour

The time had come, we must be strong, we laid him on his rug He licked our hands, his eyes said ... "Hey, just give me one last hug"

He's now in peace beneath the flowers, with angels now he flies The scruffiest angel of the flock. We love you ... old 'take me home' eyes