ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Harley – The streets of your town

Maureen Clifford © The Scribbly Bark Poet

He is only a stray, a dumb dog at the pound – yet he’s young and he’s fit and he’s medically sound
but given a chance what a great mate he’d be
out on a property – happy, carefree
excited by the cows and chooks he could see.
Is there someone there from out of town?

He is only a stray on a merry go round – another dog lost and another dog found
but can’t you just see this boy struttin’ his stuff
down the main street of some town – oh yes, he looks tough
but I doubt that he is – if he is loved enough.
Is there someone nearby who’ll come round?

He’s lived on the streets and he’s done the hard yards – he’s scrounged tins for food every night.
He’s smiled at the people who have passed him by.
His eyes have searched hard but as hard as he tried
the face that he searched for, though to him it lied
wasn’t there – and that doesn’t seem right.

He is only a stray, merely one of a score, one of thousands in fact in this land
But he didn’t ask for this terrible fate
just one week to live, then it’s over – too late
he’ll take his last walk – all alone – sans a mate
but if we try to save him we might,
please share with the world stray dogs plight.

So if you be a poet a writer or such and you’re touched by this terrible tale,
you might write some lines and share them with the press
to bring forth the plight of these dogs – I confess
that there seems to be no end to this awful mess
but ignore it – and we to our cost
will discover humanities lost.

Nice one Maureen, both poem and thoughts. My daughter has on three occasions now, chosen a pound puppy. Not puppy actually, two have been aged dogs, one had been badly treated. I really can't understand why someone would choose to have a pet and then not be bothered or too lazy to do the right thing by it. We have a maltese shih tzu cross and love him unconditionally.
Wazza

Thanks Wazza - glad you liked it - you and I think along the same lines My two girls were pound puppies although past the first flush of youth when I got them. I always take the dogs that have been abused - so often they are seen as 'difficult' and overlooked but love works miracles. Sadly again immediately after Christmas the pounds here are full again of dogs and cats - it is a never ending stream - the volunteers do a might job with fostering and rehoming, running cheap speying days etc etc but they are like King Canute.

Good subject Maureen - it breaks my heart to see stray and/or abused dogs, or any distressed animals in fact.

Good one Maureen,
A sad story too often told! Considering what benefits are given back in return, there is not too much that can equal that reward!
Of the many dogs we've had over the years, we had a border collie/shepherd cross that had been dumped in the Hawkesbury River, She was estimated at Twelve months old, and though it took a while to earn her trust she lived on to a ripe old age of Seventeen years. You couldn't buy the happiness that she gave us.
Thanks
Ron