Poetry


Baggage


Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my new warm bed.
I'd like to open my baggage
Lest I forget,
There is so much to carry
So much to regret.

Hmm...Yes, there it is, right on the top,
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things -
And take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never repack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?

--Evelyn Colbath


The Rescue
By Sheila A. Donohue, Snow Raven Farm

I sign at the counter and get the OK
to proceed to the back, beyond the light of day.

There is barking and howling, there is sorrow and fear
Eyes that implore "help us", they know the end's near.

I move past the big dogs, the mutts and the pups,
To a cage where the old dog has just given up.

His back is turned towards me he won't lift his head.
"Just move on right by me...I'm already dead"

As I look at this old man, my eyes brim with tears,
My heart fills with pity: I can't leave him here.

I put careful fingers through the mesh wire gate.
His cloudy eyes find me. We're still and we wait.

He struggles to stand, he limps a few steps,
"are you waiting for me?"
"Do you know what you'll get?"

His nose leads him to me, his ears cannot hear
The words that I offer, the mumurings dear.

Then slowly, so slowly, the tail starts to move,
From the right side to the left side and offers some proof,

Though hungry and sickly and left in the dust,
There's still something inside that allows him to trust.

I open the gate and place my hand on his head
He'll go home with me to a warm snuggly bed.

He has good food, a warm fire and love to the ceiling
Holding him in my arms is a wonderful feeling!



Caution: The following poems may upset you and cause you to want to join your nearest rescue effort.



THE MIRACLE OF LIFE
by Barry Taylor, DVM


This poem is really sad and also really true.

"Come quick, come quick",their mother said "The time is getting near"
She feels that when the kittens come the children should be here.
She told them that a big orange Tom took "Kitty" as his wife,
"It's wonderful, a gift from God, the miracle of life".

At half a year "Kitty" feels too painful and too scared,
to apperciate six miracles, blind-eyed and yellow haired.
But she knows these lives depend on her and nature tells her how,
and as she cleans them, children ask, "Mom, can we go now?"

But now and then for six more weeks the children visit her,
to play with six magic toys made of life and fur.
The six weeks pass, the newness gone and new homes yet unfound,
Mom bundles up six miracles and takes them to the pound,

Where lovingly, with gentle hands and no tears left to cry,
the shelter workers kiss them once and take them off to die.
And "Momma Kitty" now she's called mourns her loss and then,
she's put outside and, of course, she's pregnant once again.

Dad tells "Kitty", STOP THIS NOW or you wont live here long!,
but deep inside of Momma Cat, this time something's wrong.
Too young, too small, too often bred now nature's gone awry,
Momma Kitty feels it too and she crawls off to die.

She too is freed from this cruel world, and from her time of stife.
How harsh the truth, how high the price this "Miracle of Life"?



Waiting

A dog sits waiting in the cold autumn sun.
Too faithful to leave, too frightened to run.
He's been here for days now with nothing to do
But sit by the road, waiting for you.

He can't understand why you left him that day
He thought you and he were stopping to play.
He's sure you'll come back, and that's why he stays.
How long will he suffer? How many more days?

His legs have grown weak, his throat parched and dry.
He's sick now with hunger, and falls with a sigh.
He lays down his head and closes his eyes.
I wish you could see how a waiting dog dies.

--by Kathy Flood



Do I Go Home Today?

My family brought me home
cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me,
and said I was full of charm.

They played with me and laughed with me.
They showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family,
especially the girls and boys.

The children loved to feed me,
they gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them -
all snuggled in the sheets.

I used to go for walks,
often several times a day.
They even fought to hold the leash,
I'm very proud to say.

They used to laugh and praise me,
when I played with that old shoe.
But I didn't know the difference
between the old ones and the new.

The kids and I would grab a rag,
for hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing
When I chewed the bedroom rug.

They said I was out of control,
and would have to live outside.
This I did not understand,
although I tried and tried.

The walks stopped, one by one;
they said they hadn't time.
I wish I could change things,
I wish I knew my crime.

My life became so lonely,
in the backyard on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long,
to keep from going insane.

So they brought me to the shelter,
but were embarassed to say why.
They said I caused an allergy,
and then kissed me goodbye.

If I'd only had some classes,
as a little pup.
I wouldn't have been so hard to handle,
when I was all grown up.

"You only have one day left",
I heard the worker say.
Does this mean a second chance?
Do I go home today?

--by Sandi Thompson



Alone Again

I wish someone would tell me what it is
That I've done wrong.
Why I have to stay chained up and
Left alone so long.

They seemed so glad to have me
When I came here as a pup.
There were so many things we'd do
While I was growing up.

They couldn't wait to train me as a
Companion and a friend.
And told me how they'd never fear
Being left alone again.

The children said they'd feed me and
Brush me every day.
They'd play with me and walk me
If only I could stay.

But now the family "Hasn't Time,"
They often say I shed.
They don't even want me in the house
Not even to be fed.

The chldren never walk me.
They always say "Not now!"
I wish that I could please them.
Won't someone tell me how?

All I had, you see, was love.
I wish they would explain
Why they said they wanted me
Then left me on a chain?

--Anonymous



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