Dog

The ‘Dog' was bred and trained for fighting;
    given to me . . . .in a time of war;
    loyal to me . . . .to any degree -
    together we fought. . . . and traveled. . . .afar:
    Through jungles and swamps, over mountains we‘tromped'
    till the fighting was over and done.
    I trusted my life. . .in peril and strife;
    my love . . .in the end. . . he had won!
    When they told me the news. . . that he could be mine,
    to keep him - my heart jumped for joy!
    My wife was now pregnant - a joy all it's own;
    our first . . . . .I hoped. . . . . .was a boy.
    My wife had our baby, but it was so sad-
    through labor in childbirth she died.
    The baby was saved, and all through the night-
    ‘Dog' . . . . and I . . . . .both cried.
    I moved to the mountains - a cabin for three:
    just the baby, ‘Dog', and me.
    ‘Dog' like a guardian quickly became,
    The best . . . .I ever. . . . did see-
    No matter what happened, in trouble or strain,
    ‘Dog' . . . . always acted. . . The same.
    He guarded the baby - as it were his own;
    like a Mother. . . ‘Dog'. . . . became.
    But one day while hunting, far out in the woods-
    I realized. . . . . .the time I'd forgot;
    neglected to remember, the baby and ‘Dog'-
    for hours . . . .food . . . .they had not.
    I came home astonished. . . . .the stillness was strange,
    the place. . . . was a terrible. . . . .wreck!
    ‘Dog' on the porch , raised his leg, and I saw!-
    blood . . . . .on his paws . . . .and neck.
    Searching and Screaming!. . . . . I ran all about
    as I looked for the baby, in vain-
    Blinded by fear, I could only see ‘Dog'
    the blood . . . . hot rage. . . and pain!
    Then rushing inside quickly - over the mantle
    the shotgun. . . .loaded. . . I found;
    dashed back to the porch in wild frenzy of thought;
    I needed. . . . just one . . . . single round!!!!
    ‘Dog' with sad doleful eyes, sat so still,
    He patiently awaited the impending Kill!
    Then as I squeezed. . . . and fired the shot-
    his love . . . and loyalty . . .I forgot.
    The trigger was pulled and I couldn't have stopped-
    far too late was my desperate. . . try;
    while hearing the shot, in echo I caught:
    A tiny . . . . Baby's . . . .cry---???
    I rushed to the bedroom, flung open the door-
    most certain the sound came from there!
    And found my young son. . . in the dresser drawer;
    un-harmed. . . . was every. . . . .hair.
    I grabbed up My son! . . . and bolted back where -
    in a pool. . . . on the porch. . . . there ‘Dog' lay.
    Obedient he'd been, to the very end-
    in death . . . . to my . . . . . dismay.
    The blood left a trail from his neck and paw
    t'ward the end of the porch. . . . .then I saw !
    The blood had come from wolves, he'd fought!
    They wounded . . . his neck . . . and paw.
    My heart nearly BURST!. . .My tears flowed like rain;
    in pain. . . . .I analyzed. . . . . each track;
    ‘Dog' hid my son, before the battle he fought,
    then KILLED . . . the whole . . . .wolf pack!!!!!
    My Son's now grown. . . and he does own:
    a dog whose breed's the same,
    but none Loved more. . . . than saved my son;
    ‘Dog' . . . . .was his only. . . . name!

by: Ron Baron

My Pal is Gone