THE LAST ENTRY
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 12:15 am
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.
©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.
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.
