ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

A small price to pay. Maureen Clifford © 10/12



Sharp doggie toenails and polished pine floors are never a good combination
the finish is marred and the polish is scarred which ends up as a housewife’s frustration.
But in the scheme of life – where our scars show our strife, why should a few scratches matter?
I know that I’ll be devastated quite soon and miss desperately her pitter-patter.
Floorboards can be polished and even replaced there is nothing money can’t fix there
but replacing true love – that’s a far different thing – and I owe her a duty of care.

Nice pristine gardens and big dogs don’t mix – not if dog likes to bury its treats.
Far too well fed to eat them at once they are stored beneath bark chip quite neat.
I don’t know they’re there but the other dog does and occasionally it sparks a blue
of gigantic performance, with hackles and teeth and it’s me referees then these two.
To send them to corners is not an option that they understand, I know not why.
So they’re scruffed, smacked and scolded, separated out and threatened with pound by and by.

I reckon I know why God gave us two hands when there’s two furry heads need a pat.
No doubt the same reason he gave us two feet for dog pillows when at night I’m sat
contemplating the world and the wickedness there, the heartache, the wars and the greed
and I realize how lucky my life is and blessed, for these two fulfil my every need.
They offer companionship, loyalty, love, entertainment, protection and more
It’s a small price to pay when you think about it – a few scratches upon a pine floor.

Mahalia managed to make it through another 3 years from when I wrote this. Right about now I would give anything to have that 2nd set of toenails scratching the floor - my little Elly is a lost soul without her big sister around. I know there is another one waiting for us to find it but so far I haven't.

Maybe you could persuade my son to let you adopt this creature, Elmo alias world's craziest fool.

( the little one at the side is OK )

Poor Elmo - not his Grandpa's favourite boy by the sound of it and all he want's is to be loved - nice sketch Neville

Thanks Maureen. You've done well in your poem, straight from the heart would be why. You seemed a bit down with this so I threw in the old goofy mutt to bring a lighter note to your day. Walt Disney's Goofy was a dog, I wonder if Walt had a basset hound, could be

Here is another one to cheers ya up Mausie.


Jinny the lizard hunter.

Thanks Neville and Bob for caring. I've got a few fur babies upstairs waiting for me - each one of them was special and very much loved