When I was a child in my formative years
You accompanied me to school every day
No one allowed to approach or bother me
You kept me safe all along the way
My loyal guardian, friend and protector
There again for me when the clock struck three
To pick me up and deliver me from school
And to escort me home to my family safely
With your jet-black hair, so shiny and long
Your warm brown eyes, so big and round
A muscular body, so sleek and strong
No better caretaker could ever be found
No matter what, you were always there for me
Waiting, always waiting with love so patiently
Always happy, never questioning or complaining
Yours was a love that you gave unconditionally
When I looked into your soulful brown eyes
I only saw acceptance, devotion and affection
How eager and willingly you wanted to play
Never asking in return, just a little attention
Then one sad day, you weren’t waiting for me
The man from the pound was putting you in his truck
“Please don’t take him! He’s my dog”, I cried.
He wouldn’t listen and it seemed we had no luck
When I phoned the animal shelter later that day
They said no dog there matched your description
I could hear your anguished barking in the background
I begged my parents to take me to that location
I caught a quick glimpse of you in that tiny cage
Before you so keenly sensed my presence
How depressed and abandoned you looked to me
Life no longer had any meaning, hope or sense.
And in that moment of despair and hopelessness
When you felt me, looked up, and then saw me
How happy you were, how transformed and alive
You quickened to what seemed an impossible dream
After that we had many more good years together
Until one sad day I had to leave for college
How your head sulked when you saw my suitcases
You knew that I was going away on a long voyage
The next time I saw you, you were dying
I was home from school during winter break
It was as though you had been patiently waiting
To be with me once again, for old-time’s sake
I held you in my arms, I said goodbye and I cried
I thanked you for always being my loyal friend
For yours was truly a labor of love and devotion
We were bonded to each other to the very end
Author notes
This is a true story. Blacky really did walk me to school and pick me up. He was my nanny dog. I was only six years old when I started walking to school, which was only a few blocks away. It was a long, perilous distance for one so young, but my Blacky was there with me every step of the way protecting me.
I grew up with Blacky. He died after I went away to college. It's true that I came home on a winter break and it was as though he was waiting to see me again before he let go. My stepfather told me he was holding on for me. I held him one last time and told him I loved him.
A contest entry
- Animals sense many things for the group animal lovers by storiesuntold.
1000 points, ended March 26, 12 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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this is a touching story well written
your dog had a special task making sure you came home from school.
did you live in the city or the country.
I thought maybe you were blind at first too.
in any case the story is so good finding the dog and losing the dog -
Such a heartfelt loving write this is
Bravo on this poem it touched me as My pets that have been so loyal have passed . I lost my Border collie of fifteen years just this last month and she was so much like your blacky
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You've made me cry
I'm not even kiding, taers are stinging my eyes, and if i weren't in school right now i'd probably be all out crying.
this is such a beautiful tribute to blacky. dogs grow on you so so much. i love how in the poem, you put how blacky was w/o hope or mening in the shelter, but when he seen you, everything was back, and he was full of love.
its so true. it only made you peom even sadder in the end.
this is a breathtakingly beautiful peice, i absolutly adore it.
xoxo,
--gooshawn <3
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Dear Blacky
So glad he was there for you
steadfast and true, protecting
and I know the true importance of that
again so glad he was there
a friend
a confidante
and one you will never forget
A very moving write in a lot of ways
and one I can relate to on all sorts of levels
least of all from being a dog owner now
but not getting a dog until I was about ten (I had a doll only the one Shirley and she was my confidante)
my first Penny
she used to skeet up the road to meet me
we had her for only a few years
a rescue dog
but my Mothers illness meant
that she had to go
I can't begin to describe it as I'm
sure you know
Since Penny though
I have had loads
at the moment I have four
and I have dearly loved them all
warmest love Lib x x x -
A FRIEND FOR LIFE!!!
They not just animals but are our undying friends who stand by us through all. This is a sad story but one I have had happen to me and also have seen happen to others as well.
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My first dog died when I was in college too. She died of a heart attack. She was 13 years old. I had a few dogs since but you never forget your first dog.
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