2012 Golden Successes
A PROUD RETRIEVER NOW
My paws were raw from walking along that lonely road
Alone with not a single soul to share my heavy load
My head was in a total whirl. What was it I had done?
I always tried to please them and be their source of fun.
But they had simply tired of me and shut me in a shed
Out of sight and out of mind in my dirty, smelly bed.
They used to brush me every day but soon got tired of that
So now I was a knotty mess, my coat was one big matt.
I used to go for lovely walks but now I went nowhere.
I saw no-one. I was unloved. It was more than I could bear.
My humans said I cost too much, a burden to them all
So one cold night they threw me out as the rain began to fall.
I walked and walked forever, I was wet and feeling cold
I stumbled and fell over … mud and brambles hid my gold
I knew my life was over. I was drifting on a cloud
But suddenly I heard a voice, quiet first, then loud.
“Come and see, what we have here” the man said to his wife
“A stray’s collapsed outside our door … we may yet save his life.”
They dried my coat and wamed me up as quickly as they dared
Then gave me sips of chicken broth and let me know they cared.
I went from strength to strength then, nurtured by the love
Of my forever guardians sent by angels from above
They washed me, groomed me, fed me and gave me treats galore
And, best of all, they tell me I’m the boy that they adore.
I’m feeling really happy though I wouldn’t want to gloat
But I’m such a proud Retriever now with my gleaming golden coat.
We have long walks, I even swim. I play and play all day
What a brilliant ending for a poor unwanted “stray”.
by Jeff Shepherd