ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

DOWN BUT NOT QUITE OUT

My mother says she loves me but once again has caused me pain.
I’m underneath the house with bucket on my head again.
I’ve been cut open hip to knee, they’ve shaved off all me fur,
she says she loves me many times – it’s not happened to her.

I have this thing around me neck which now I cannot turn
it hinders seeing everything, it’s like a bloody urn.
She says the stitches can’t be touched. No not even a nibble
and to make it worse I’m limited with tucker – down to kibble.

She hides these damn great pills away inside the tasty treats
that she feeds me every hour or so – such tasty chunks of meat,
that I grasp in hunger eagerly and chew and swallow down
wondering why it tastes so terrible. It’s kangaroo, its brown.

I’ve had a growl at Elly she is such a bloody dill
that she wants to jump all over me – no matter I am ill.
Though the drugs are good and kill the pain I’m hobbling on three
which from where I stand ain’t good at all – the crook ones my good knee.

I tore a cruciate ligament just how I do not know
but felt a searing pain within from stifle down to toe.
Mum took me to the vet again – he’s really a good bloke
but every time I leave there I feel worse and that’s no joke.

Mum said again ‘I’m sorry girl to put you through this pain
but it’s better than the alternative in which there was no gain.
I couldn’t do that to you – you deserve every chance
and you’ve got the guts to overcome this hurdle and still dance.’

I really don’t know what she meant – I just know that I’m lame.
Five minutes exercise a day that’s if I’m bloody game
which I’m not right at this minute – for I’ve struggled, couldn’t prance
to the grass for wees and bodily things – on three legs? Huh!!! Fat chance.

Next week she says my limit will be ten minutes a day
which is very optimistic - but might happen if you pray
for my recovery. For now I drift in opiate induced haze
underneath the house in la la land – oh happy happy days.

Well I’m going to get my head down now and have a little nap
if I can squash this bloody Elizabethan collar - plastic crap
into some semblance of flatness so my weary heady can lay
upon my paws just like it used to – before my drug filled days.


Maureen Clifford © 05/11

Oh poor Mahalia. I'm sure she knows you mean well!

Heather

Looks very uncomfortable, but necessary. I'm sure getting spoiled makes up for the temporary inconvenience.

Marty, Marty, Marty. Into the corner you go. What your poor, long suffering wife must have to put up with. She'll have a few allies in September I think.

Heather

My Tenterfield Terrier pranced in this afternoon while I was watching the footy and jumped up on my lap I do not know what she had rolled in but she thought she smelt beautiful.


Gotta love em

Bob

And she did Bob she was sharing the most delightful perfume with you and you did not value the experience

Mahalia is a gutsy girl. A cruciate ligament is like a knee replacement and this was her good leg, but she struggles out to toilet 3 or 4 times a day with me carrying most of her weight in a towel sling which is doing my back in I have to tell you. Six weeks of this and I will be rooined. My neighbours help me get her in and out of the car for the vet visits - I have lovely neighbours - truly blessed.

Today she has got up of her bed herself and moved about a little - all good. As I said she is one brave dog who deserves every chance I can possible afford to give to her. I love her.

She managed a 10 minute walk today putting a little weight on her leg - admittedly very slowly and was puffing like as steam train. The wound has healed up nicely and is very clean and I have taken the bucket off her head as she is not even attempting to pull out stitches. She barked at the posty..I think she is feeling much better

That's really good to hear Maureen. She's on the up and up now.

Heather