Baby Starbuck

I called her “baby” she was my little girl,
Such spirit she had it would make your hair curl!
When I wasn’t working my time was with her,
Not a dog nor kitten, no barks and no purrs.
A Buckskin Filly, four months into life,
Just beginning to learn to do everything right.
So full of spit, she had such spirit
That no other colt could ever come near it.
She stayed with my mare, her Mother she claimed,
My mare claimed her to for she felt the same.
Where there was one, you’d find the other,
My baby girl and her new Mother.
Then came the day I found the gate open,
The mare and the colt through it had bolted.
Had to be thieves attempting to steal
For the way the gate closed, a horse couldn’t deal.
We searched and searched with fear inside,
So many places my girls could hide!
At last the mare came into sight,
But she was alone, baby lost in their flight.
I thought maybe if I got on her back,
To baby she’d take me if I gave her slack.
But that didn’t happen, she wouldn’t take me,
She knew where she was but didn’t want me to see.
It was our dog, went to my husband Jim,
Begged him to follow but would only take him.
She led Jim straight there, my baby to find,
They wouldn’t let me see, knew I’d lose my mind!
A barbed wire fence held my baby captive,
Her body limp, nevermore to be active.
That fence ripped more than my baby’s flesh,
For it ripped my heart right out of my chest!
I’m not alone in feeling this loss,
My mare to, is paying the cost.
Our baby is gone tho not from our hearts,
She will always be there; she’ll never depart.
The thieves don’t know what they did that day
Nor did they care as they went their way.
But I’ll never forget the heartbreak they caused
When it was my home they decided to pause.
My mare and my dog took care of me,
They both knew the sight I shouldn’t see.
They’re my friends and they understood
The pain I would find out there in the woods.
It’s amazing the senses animals possess
About when their humans are in distress.
They try hard to help us get through
The times in our lives that we find so blue.
Kathy Henderson

He Sits Alone

He sits all alone looking for you,
Scared and confused, don’t know what to do.
If he strays from this spot you might never find him
So he’s not going to move, you can’t even lure him.
People they pass and they look at him there,
Some smile as they go, but most just don’t care.
He sits all alone; he looks so lonely….
His whines no one hears, he waits for you only.
A pretty little guy, how can this be?
To be left alone for the whole world to see.
He didn’t understand when you had to go,
Bills have to be paid no choice you know!
So there he sits, framed in the window
Watching for you and seeing the wind blow.
Perched on top of your favorite chair,
He thinks you won’t know you won’t see the hair.
He’ll disappear when he sees you coming,
At the doors where he’ll be dancing and spinning!
He’ll whine and bark, maybe even howl,
So happy is he that you’re home now!!
Kathy Henderson

I Watch You in Silence

I watch you in silence there in your bed,
Little feet twitching then you roll your head.
What are you dreaming, I think to myself,
Are you winning the race or being chased yourself?
You roll around and make a “sighing” sound,
I smile and I think…you lazy old hound!
You ate everything you were offered tonight,
Your tummy bulges, you’re a funny sight!
There’s nothing wrong with the picture I see
Except the decision that’s been placed on me.
The disease you carry can’t be reversed,
You seem fine now, but soon you’ll get worse.
I can’t put you through it; I love you to much
But now you seem healthy, how can I do such?
You’ve been my best friend for so many years,
The smile on my face just turned to tears.
We have sometime to get ourselves ready
Before your little body becomes so unsteady.
I’m unsteady now, my heart already grieving,
So hard for me to think of you leaving.
What will I do without you around?
When at my feet you can no longer be found?
To know I’m the one who sent you away,
Will you understand somehow, some way?
I can’t be selfish and keep you for me,
For suffer you would and that just can’t be.
The decision was made when the tests came in,
The decision left now is just to be “when”?
I watch you in silence and pray through my tears
For the strength that I need to face my biggest fear.
It’s here before me and my life it’s crushed,
To lose my little friend that I love so much.
Kathy Henderson

Make My Day!!

A little ball of fur with four legs and a tongue,
The fastest in the west and I barr none!
We weren’t even home yet but I already knew,
I was wrapped round your paw and my heart you’d won to!
We made it through puppyhood tho’ quite often I’d say,
“Go ahead, you little brat, go ahead, make my day!!”
You’d grin at me then with the devil in your eyes!
Oh, the games you played would be my demise!
When you grew tired of harassing “poor old Mom”,
It was only my lap you sought to sleep on.
I’d look at you then, so tiny, so sweet,
Little legs jerking as you dream in sleep.
My buddy, my baby, you’ve grown up to be
The most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to me.
A different tone now to my voice when I say….
Come here, little one, come here, make my day.
Kathy Henderson

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