I wrote this poem a long, long time ago. In fact, it was typewritten. And, I had a sketch on the page that was drawn by our cousin Dave Washburn. Odd thing is, the drawing is that of a Labrador, a type of dog we had never owned.
Today, we are madly in love with our own Lab mix, a rescue who was found somewhere out in the countryside. On the day we took her home, we were told that she was going to love the outdoors since she hadn't been outside in almost three months. Boy, were they right.
I guess I must have written this for not only our furry friend, but for all of those who blessedly found their forever homes - finally.
Unconditional love
Though there had been other trips
This one seemed not quite right
The pup scurried to a corner
In the car, in the black of night
His small sturdy body
Lay trembling on the seat
The man scarcely glanced his way
His eyes looked old and beat
The daughter insisted on coming
On this highly suspicious trip
The young girl’s eyes were red
And her nose kept wanting to drip
“Please, daddy,” she cried,
“Don’t take him away!”
But her father refused to listen
And her fears he wouldn’t allay
The frightened pup grew still
As he crept closer to his friend
And he gave what comfort he could
Whatever love and warmth he could lend
Soon the two grew quieter still
The silence alarmed the man
He took a country road too fast
And barely missed a van
His heart was pounding, and
He thought he might be ill
To dump this tiny puppy
Was a very bitter pill
The silence from the back
Was deeper than the night
It accused him and disturbed him—
What he was doing wasn’t right
He tried too hard to make it seem
The only thing to do
But a voice deep down inside him cried,
“No! That’s not true!”
A stirring from the two in back
Caused the man to tense
What would his daughter think of this?
To her, it made no sense
The time had come, he stopped the car
Yet he left the engine running
That which was left to do
Required very little cunning
The pup, on wobbly legs stood up
And with the softest bark
From the back seat of the car he jumped
Into the waiting, unfriendly dark
The girl reached out, she stifled a cry
Her eyes she hid with her hand
She tried to swallow and couldn’t—
Her mouth felt full of sand
“Oh, daddy,” she whispered, her sobs began
As she climbed to the side of the man
He put his arms around the girl
And wiped the tears that ran
The pup sat on the road
And watched the taillights fade
A whimper from inside his heart
Sliced the air like a blade
One can only guess that in his heart
The pup felt the fault was his own
That if he’d been smaller, cuter, whatever…
He wouldn’t be here now, forever and ever alone
So, remember this, please
If your plan is like that above
A dog attaches itself to you
With unconditional love
