THE LAST ENTRY

[mummsie]

THE LAST ENTRY
©Sue Pearce 2012

The dappled shadows flickered through the ghost gums by the track
that wound its way along the stream, toward the old bush shack
standing desolate and humble, against a waning sky,
with no one now to tend its needs-to hear the lone dogs cry.

As twilight settled on the scene a stranger came in view,
a sigh escaping from his lips- a place to boil a brew
with refuge from the elements- somewhere to lay his head,
relief was utmost in his mind as faltered footsteps tread.

An armful of dry firewood was gathered on the way,
his aching bones reminding him how far he'd come that day.
He gathered water from the stream and made toward the door
and stumbled on a scene that left him frozen to the core.

In a worn out chair beside a bed, draped as if to fall,
the body of a feeble man had clearly heard Gods call.
Then came upon the strangers ears, a weak and mournful whine,
his eyes drawn to an old blue dog, his collar made of twine.

It was clear to him the dog had little time left on his side
so cupping water in his hand, he reached and gently tried
to offer up the sustenance the parched old canine craved,
then marvelled at the old dogs grit, as slowly he obeyed.

He kept a vigil by his side until the early morn,
through momentary lapses when his eyes had closed and drawn
a curtain on the sombreness instilled within the room,
where sunshine heralding the day did nought to lift the gloom.

The old dog traced his footsteps as he made toward the chair,
his eyes now fixed and silent on the body lying there.
The stranger uttered "come now Blue, I think the time is best
to ask the Lord to bless his soul, then lay him down to rest".

"Earth to earth" the words were spoken then the stranger took his leave,
but the old dog lay there...Silent; by the mound he lay to grieve
for the one he'd known as master- by his side for many years.
His eyes told of the sadness as they brimmed with unshed tears.

The stranger sipped a strong black brew to ease his troubled mind,
his eyes now drawn toward the chair and something there behind.
A small black book lay open on the page where it had fell.
There, written in a feeble scrawl, the old mans last farewell.

"My life has had its ups and downs, I've seen the bad and good
and though I've wronged along the way, I've done the best I could.
The staircase I'm about to climb will lead me to a door,
where I will stand on equal ground as those who've gone before.
The best friend I have had in life has been my old mate Blue,
he's never questioned how or why or told me what to do.
He's stood by me through rain and shine, through laughter and through pain,
so farewell Blue- I'll miss you- but I'm sure we'll meet again".

The stranger left the small abode and made toward the mound
and beckoned to the old blue dog from whom there came no sound.
Old Blue had joined his master by the heavens pearly gates.
They'd walked that golden staircase-man and dog- the best of mates.

The dappled shadows flickered through the ghost gums by the track,
that wound its way along the stream toward the old bush shack
standing desolate and humble against the waning sky,
with no one now to tend its needs- no lone dog left to cry.

[r.magnay]

A pretty good poem Sue, the theme is pretty well used perhaps, it reminds me of an old bloke who descibed country music as 'lyin' cryin and dyin' music!

[Maureen K Clifford]

Now I'm tearing up again It may be a theme that's been done before Sue but it makes your poem no less poignant and sad for all of that, and any poem that can move someone to tears is a good poem IMO.

They get me every time - reminded me of our old Blue Heeler Jess, who did exactly the same thing, she came and said her goodbye to my ex as he was having a last cuppa before he took her to be put down, he took the cup back into the kitchen came out to get her and she had chosen her own time to go to God and rested peacefully on her mat.


Enjoyed the read Sue

Cheers

Maureen

[Terry]

Hi Sue,
I agree thats a good poem.
Very descriptive and a little polish here and there could see it really shine.

Terry

[mummsie]

Thanks for the input folks.
Ross- thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

Maureen-like you I'm a sucker for a tear jerker and old hat or not there"s something about a poem about an old man and his dog.

Terry- Yes, I'm guilty of posting before polishing. This was just something that came about in the wee small hours when I couldn't sleep.

Cheers

[william williams]

Hi Sue good I don't care whether it's polished or unpolished she's a good'n thank

Bill the old battler

[warooa]

I agree with Terry, Sue . . . iron out the hicups and you've got a pearler there.

Loved it.

Cheers, Marty

[Brenda Joy]

Thanks Sue for sharing such lovely feelings of loyalty and love.
Brenda

[Zondrae]

G'day Sue,

As those before me have said, a well expressed sentiment. You show you have a very poetic turn of phrase, in spots even bordering on brilliance. I would have still kept the spacing between the two stanzas of the diary entry. You can have enjambment running between stanzas as well as sentences.
Apart from a few very slight hiccups in metre, you have a winner on your hands. I particularly like the opening. maybe a good choice for reciting in competition. Well done and keep it up.

[mummsie]

Thank you Bill, Marty, Brenda and Zondrae for taking the time to read and comment.
As I mentioned to Terry in a PM, after running over this the following morning I was a little more tuned to the hiccups and I've made a pact with myself that as soon as the packings finished I will sit and spend some time on this one. I do like this poem and Zondrae it's very much the type of poem I would recite in a comp, I love something with plenty of feeling. Funny-well thats another story!!

Cheers
Sue