BEN

[Rod Walford]

BEN

A tribute to my Border Collie

© 1993 Rod Walford ( my first ever poem)



Many’s the trial your father won while mother worked the sheep;
Together they have gifted you with assets buried deep,
A handsome face, intelligence, agility and speed,
With heart so true and loyal, such a credit to your breed.

Your paw-pads crunching softly on the icy grass
The frost-hung beech hedge in the moonlight basks
The silver light of moon deflecting
Dances in your eyes, reflecting

Such faith in lovely eyes, which, like bright amber, shine
As the coal-black sheen of your coat at brushing time.
Ah! how your handsome features mirror images of night!
With your cloak of darkest charcoal, and your blaze of snowy white.

Yet, what is it that endears you so, that quality so treasured?
That great unspoken attribute, alas, so oft unmeasured,
But loyalty, the priceless gift revered above all other
Which neither time can render mute nor earthly distance smother.

In summer’s careful warmth, ‘midst June’s orchestral sound
We walked and ran together, field and woodland all around,
In pedigree you stand as one of England’s finest breed
Empowered by the instinct so exemplified by deed.

As golden crown of setting sun dropped slowly from the skies
You would sit and tell me stories with your telepathic eyes
No words were ever needed, and none were ever said,
But you always got the message through before you went to bed!

Now destiny and circumstance, those pruning tools of time,
Combined to part us sooner than did any plans of mine;
I grieve that we were miles apart when you were laid to rest
But in my heart you’ll always be just what you were - the best!

As Omar once reminded us, the moving finger writes,
And I look back on our friendship over countless days and nights
It is my hope, it is my prayer, the day we meet again,
We’ll run in those Eternal fields, my faithful, dear old Ben..

[Maureen K Clifford]

Love your poem - and love Border Collies as well - they are some of the smartest dogs when working sheep and always just seem to pip the Kelpies at the trials although I think the Kelpies and Heelers win with the cattle.

A lovely tribute to Ben - thank you for sharing it with us Rod

[Ron]

G'day Rod
Beautiful poem, beautiful tribute,
we have always had Border collies or border crosses.
They are exceptional dogs and we can relate to your poem with strong emotion! You certainly miss them when they're gone.
Thanks
Ron.

[Rod Walford]

Thanks Maureen and Ron - it's good to know Border Collies are popular as ever!
I wrote a couple of long story poems a while back Border Collies - one sad it reduced my Vet to tears and so I had to write one with a happy ending.

Probably too long to post on here but you can see them (I hope) here if you like:

http://www.rodwalfordpoet.com/storm.php

http://www.rodwalfordpoet.com/samson.php

[Ron]

Great stuff Rod,
Near had a tear in the eye myself!
Ron

[Bob Pacey]

Dogs are bastards of things Ron, they eat all ya food whine at the door when it gets cold poop all over the yard and dig in the bloody gardens.

I hate Them

Spose that's why I got three Because they are always around when ya need them and give you their full attention when you need someone to talk to about life and its woes.

Oh the chook just thinks it is a dog so that counts

[william williams]

hi ron bill here enjoyed your poem ben have had many working dogs over the years border collies are great, kelpies though are better in the heat still both are great dogs and mates

bill the old battler

[Rod Walford]

hi ron bill here enjoyed your poem ben have had many working dogs over the years border collies are great, kelpies though are better in the heat still both are great dogs and mates

bill the old battler

Thanks Bill - glad you enjoyed it - of course back in the UK we didn't have problems with the heat - well not very often!!

[Terry]

G/day Rod
The worst thing about dogs is that it's so painful to lose them.
Nice poem.

Terry

[Heather]

Yep, they only ask for food and love. I lost one last week.