Though I never knew him as a puppy
Nor through any of his earlier years
I can imagine the wagging tail
The playful bounce, the floppy ears.
Man's best friend in black and tan
Dudley - the best friend of man
With him I once played and ran
Dudley - the best friend of man.
He came to me when middle-aged
His muzzle already greying
Yet his youthful character
Didn't stop him playing.
Man's best friend in black and tan
Dudley - the best friend of man
With him I once played and ran
Dudley - the best friend of man.
Five years with me were gaily spent
And though his hearing was lost
He never stopped having fun
He chased every ball I tossed
Man's best friend in black and tan
Dudley - the best friend of man
With him I once played and ran
Dudley - the best friend of man.
Then finally at sixteen years
His age began to show
His legs grew stiff, his heart too
It was time for him to go
Man's best friend in black and tan
Dudley - the best friend of man
With him I once played and ran
Dudley - the best friend of man.
He couldn't carry on in pain
It was a hard choice to make
But we did what was right by him
We did it for Dudley's sake
Man's best friend in black and tan
Dudley - the best friend of man
With him I once played and ran
Dudley - the best friend of man.
So when I stand, or sit, or lie
My heart sighs in my chest
I know my dog, my beloved pet
Has finally earnt his rest.
Man's best friend in black and tan
Dudley - the best friend of man.
Author notes
I lost Dudley about 10 days before I wrote this. It wasn't a particularly hard decision to make to have him put to sleep because we knew the time was coming, and we knew it was best for him, but I still found it really hard.
We got him when he was about ten from the Dogs Trust (who do a brilliant job here in the UK) and he was the best friend you could want for almost six years.
I will never forget him.
A contest entry
- Animal Angels by Raven Tears.
850 points, ended September 10, 2007, 16 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Rhyme Time by Danna Hobart.
375 points, ended October 12, 2007, 32 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Because I got so many entries, I am going to judge this a little different than I normally do. On the contest page the challenge was to write a rhyming poem that shows instead of tells, with imagery and metaphor galore. In addition to those things, I am going to take the meter and rhythm into account along with originality. So I am going to award points for each of those things and then sort of tally them at the end to decide on the winners.
Show vs. Tell: 80/100
Concrete Imagery: 80/100
Metaphor/Symbol/Allusion: 70/100
Originality: 90/100
Meter: 90/100
Sorry for your loss. Pets are people too. It is very hard to lose them. -
Dearest
Unspoiled
Defender
Loyal (of course)
Ever loved
Youth’s friend
You honored him well.
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I am so sorry for your loss. You did such a wonderful thing in taking in Dudley when he was older. And he gave you six wonderful years.
Like Raven Tears said, I truly believe Dudley will be waiting for you at that rainbow bridge.
Love and hugs
- joanne
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My deepest sympathy to you.
You did an excellent job in expressing how much he meant to you and how much fun you had together.
I'm sorry it was only recent that he was let go, but be strong for Dudley he knows you love him.
I can relate because my best friend Basil was put to sleep, being a Labrador he suffered from chronic arthritis and it eventually caught up to him in the end.
So to stop him from hurting anymore we put him to sleep.
But it's okay because he was happy and smiled at everyone before it happened.
But anyway, I promise in time, you'll see him again.
Be strong for him
Love and Light.
~Raven Tears~
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Thankyou for your kind comments and your sympathy. I am hoping to get a labrador within the next month or two (because I need another dog in my life) but i will never forget Dudley.
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Aww This is so sweet and so sad. Some people don't understand that losing a pet is just as bad as losing a family member or a friend. Because thats what they are, your best friend and your closest family member. What a wonderful way to remember him by. Beautiful and very well written. Wonderful poem!!!
Megan -
xxxxxxx
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