""THE DREAM""

I lay down bleeding, bruised, and sore,
Broken spirit, just like before.
Can't he see my pain, my fright?
I want to play, and love - not fight.
I see his hand as it comes down,
And as he speaks I can hear his frown.
I shrink down closer to the floor,
But I know just what's in store.
I whimper softly, though in vain.
My punishment - a four-foot chain.
Left outside for seven days.
No food, no water, eyes that glaze.
I rest my eyes, close them tight,
Trying to forget my plight.
As I open them again,
There is no grass, there is no chain.
I see your hand as it comes down,
To pat my head, call me a clown.
You laugh and tell me how I snore,
Then you hug me, and pat me more.
"It was only a dream!" I think with a sigh,
And thank the big man up in the sky.
The pain I endured, it led you to me,
And FINALLY, "I" am a part of a "WE".
My heart beats "I love you." I hope you can hear it.
There's not many out there that can mend a broken spirit.

The Star

by
Doug Coulter


When someone leaves this earth
they must take a very long and lonely journey,
what I am going to tell you is how to find out
if that journey was successful.

You must have loved your dog when he was alive
and upon his death feel as if your heart
has been ripped from your body.
The star will not work if is a false gesture on your part.
You must follow the steps exactly
the way I will tell you to find that star.

Go into the night the first clear night
you have in your area.
Go to a spot you and you dog used to go.
Close your eyes and talk to your dog
as if he is siting right by your side,
don't rush it, tears will flow like a giant river.
All at once you will feel a very strange sensation,
it will feel as if the dog is sitting right by your side.
At that moment open your eyes and look to the sky,
look all over,
but mostly in the North, Northeast portion.
All at once you will see the brightest
and warmest star in the sky.
It will draw your attention to it.
At that moment close your eyes,
then open them again
and if you see that star again
it is you dog telling you that
he has a successful journey.

That star will stay in the same spot
night after night until your grieving is over,
then it will disappear
never to be seen by you again
until you too
have made that successful journey.

When your journey is complete,
you too will put your star in the sky.


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