You look as if you’re giggling
and your tail is madly wriggling
Yes, I know that all you want to do is run.
But, Poppet, we’re not racing
and we’re tired of all the chasing.
I’m warning you, this isn’t any fun!
I thought that you adored me
and is this how you reward me?
If I were you, I’d hang my head in shame.
You’re going to cop it, Poppet
if you don’t let go and drop it.
Just stop it!
You are ruining our game!
As long as I live will I ever remember
Those bright eyes shining under the table,
Of a black and tan kelpie, who was silently saying:
“Will you be my friend? Can I be yours, too?
“Can we be friends?—yes! the best of. And if you
Love me, fun me, feed, and de-flea me,
I’ll guard and care for you, and ever be there,
For you’ll be my friend—yes!—and I’ll be yours, too.”
She was my ‘best of…’, and I loved her and kept her
Til, old, deaf and blind, she lay down and died.
Then gone were the walkies, my petting this pal,
But memories, good memories, will ever remain.
Memories, dear memories, so near and so dear,
Of a woofity pal who just wanted a friend.
Thanks, Mum, for Tammy, with her bright eyes so shining,
Who sat ’neath the table waiting for me.
There is a special place in our hearts and souls
That can only be filled by someone
who instinctively understands us,
Loves us unconditionally,
Is never demanding of our love and attention
But is always grateful for it.
That’s why pets are family.
Sioban says: This piece was written for a friend after their dog died. Pets especially dogs are so the ultimate carers, they bring so much to our lives and expect so little in return. Cats on the other hand…..
This is where we used to walk
On the beach
I collect driftwood
All different shapes and sizes
Jimmy would fetch the small pieces
I smash them against the rock
I pick up some pumice stone
It’s light and scrunchy, like a macaroon
Jimmy was so heavy
Especially when he got wet
I scrunch the pumice stone
It crumbles to dust
I see a rat
It scuttles behind a rock, sinister and sneaky
Jimmy chased rats and barked at them
I touch and tickle the sand with my toes
There are millions of grains – too many to count
Jimmy liked to dig in the sand
I sort some shells
No-one’s living in them now
They’re empty and quiet
Like my place
Coloured glass glitters
Smoothed by the sea water
Mum calls it treasure
She says Jimmy was a treasure
Near the waves seaweed settles
Someone told me you can eat it
Jimmy used to chew it and spit it out
That made me laugh
I discover a dead seagull
Was it old when it died?
I bet Jimmy would roll on it
And come home smelly
A plastic bag floats in front of me
It shouldn’t be here
But I wish Jimmy was
I watch an old man and his dog
Looking out at the blueness
His dog barks at the seagulls
Just like Jimmy
I grin, remembering.
I think I spy sea monsters hiding in the waves
But I am alone.
Or am I?
I’m sure Jimmy’s watching me.
I hate it when it happens
and I bet you hate it too.
You’re just walking on the footpath
and there’s dog-poo on your shoe.
And your friends say ’Phew!
I don’t want to sit with you
‘cause you just trod in dog-poo
and there’s dog-poo on your shoe.”
I know the dogs can’t help it.
Dogs just do what dogs just do.
But, owners, when you walk your dogs,
please collect the poo.
- Author comment: “M.Y.D.B.” is to be ‘published’ as a laminated sign on the grassy footpath near a Bush-care site I work on. For obvious reasons.
Best friends can be short or tall
bright or quiet
booky or sporty
anything at all,
mine just happens to be
a goofy, woolly, poodly, woodly
labradoodley type beastie
with a coat of gold,
soft as marshmallows.
Pinkest tongue, cool wet nose
that reminds me when
a hug is due,
boofy head that rests on my legs
like I’m the best pillow
ever,
following me
from room to room,
my loyal shadow, liquid eyes
of chocolate brown,
forever sad
even when eating,
but a shaggy, waggy tail
reveals a heart filled with happy
jazzy, fizzy stuff
that bubbles all around me,
tickling me with
love.
Today she brought a lizard’s tail
and dropped it at my feet.
and yesterday a mangled snail
was offered as a treat.
A present helps me when I’m flat.
It gives me such a lift
but not when it’s the family cat
delivering the gift.
The wind whispered softly through grass and through gum.
She heard it call clearly, invitingly, “Come!”
Felt fingers of freshness caressing her face,
ruffling her fur with such gentle embrace.
The earth had a freshness that comes after rain
and she heard the wind calling, again and again:
“Come and run with me, seek freedom, take flight!”
Its call roused a longing to know such delight.
It whispered so softly, in murmur so low.
It beckoned her, “Come,” and she wanted to go.
To forage in green grass new-kissed by the rain,
to taste of its sweetness and know once again
how it feels to run freely with life unrestrained,
to run with the wind, by a fence uncontained.
She pricked up her ears, her body was tense.
Her heart filled with longing, she leaped at the fence.
The sweet taste of freedom was brief – incomplete –
for she soon heard the sound of hurrying feet.
Familiar voice calling, she paused in her flight,
heard gentle voice saying, “I know it’s not right.
But sorry, old girl, I can’t let you run free.
If you’re on the loose the ranger might see
And take you away. Then you’d no more know
even brief tastes of freedom – a walk every day.
It’s not much to offer, but home you must stay.”
Someone said Celebrity News
wants to know what pet I’ll choose.
And since my choice will start a trend
around the world, my choice of friend
will take some very careful thought.
“A pet’s for life” is what we’re taught.
I’ve never liked domestic cats.
They have a guilty look – and that’s
because they slink too much. They move
too shiftily. Which goes to prove
they’re up to something. On the prowl.
And then at night… You’ve heard them howl!
They even make a yowling noise
when they want food or milk or toys.
And after these appalling rages
they eat, then slump, and sleep for ages.
Where’s the fun in that? I ask.
So now I’ve set myself the task
of looking for a better pet.
And, first things first, I’d like to get
a handsome one with stylish air
(to complement my fashion flair).
And then of course I think it should
be most adoring, loyal and good.
I’d like it to have attitude
but not too much – which would exclude
that other pest, the talking bird.
You won’t believe the things I’ve heard
some parrots say. They’ve got a cheek.
I tell them straight, “Go wash your beak
out. Use the soap, and don’t you ever
say such words again. No never.”
I simply wouldn’t take that risk.
I do like baby things that frisk,
like puppies, lambs and foals and such,
But when they’re older, not so much-
not when they lose that joyful spring.
And yes –there is another thing –
I like a pet that’s always clean,
So… maybe goldfish? I have seen
some gorgeous frilly ones. But no,
I’d like a pet who’ll join my show
and share the limelight. If it’s mine
it must be dazzling. It should shine
and be a star as bright as me.
Do you know what my pet should be?
Pardon? What would you suggest?
Do tell me what you think is best.
You think the wisest choice for me
is a large pet rock! Well, mission done
IF I can choose a diamond one.
How right you are. And for my part
I’ll love that rock with all my heart.
I’ll take it everywhere with me
and show it off for all to see.
How good of you to recommend
the perfect pet, a girl’s best friend.
