Jake and "Hambone"
Jake and Hambone were the best of friends
Both born just hours apart
Joined forever in the others heart
Jake had eyes of blue
and sandy blond hair
Hambone just a old hound
with not near enough sense
But where one went
the other was close behind
Best of friends ever to be found
They went through their chewing stage
chewing on everything in sight
I even caught them sharing
a old house shoe one night
They both grew older
no worse for the ware
and Hambone followed Jake everywhere
School started and Jake had to go
Old Hambone would lay waiting
all day outside by the stairs
Weekends were the very best
driving out to pawpaw's
So they could spend the night
To the lake on Saturday
Hambone went right along
Jumping in the water
at the break of dawn
Swimming and frolicking
Until they were to tired to move
Sharing peanut butter and jelly
it was such a funny sight
Hambone getting it stuck in the roof of his mouth
Then laying in the sun with a warm summer breeze
Hambone laying right next to Jake's knees
They were there for each other
soothing any pain
playing together after warm summer rains
Hambone would wallow
in the mud first chance he got
and Jake would sneak him in
mud everywhere, Gram's would be mad
Until Jake hung his head looking so sad
Yes, boy and dog made quite a team
together they didn't miss
much of anything
Jake grew older
and to O.U. he went
Hambone couldn't go
and you could tell Jake was missed
Nineteen years passed
years full of fun and sun
Old Hambone grew older
and got to where he couldn't run
He just lay around
only playing in his dreams
A call to the dorm one late
October night
made Jake's heart break
at just the thought
Hambone was dying
Did Jake want to drive home
Jake said, he would be right there
as he hung up the phone
He drove four hours
that October night
Hambone part of his every thought
with tears in his eyes
he made it home
Hambone was waiting
still holding on
He was curled up
on the foot of Jake's old bed
And Jake lay down
and held his graying head
Tears dripping down
on Hambone's fur
To Jake it just didn't seem at all fair
Hambone looked up
and licked away a tear
you could tell he was glad Jake was near
Hambone left that October night
But Jake will carry him
forever with in his heart
Man and Hound will never
really ever part.
Jake buried him beneath
the willows
somehow it seemed so fitting
for both were weeping
Jake made an old wood cross
to mark the spot
Of the best old dog
he had ever got
He picked up little "Hamtwo"
Great grandson of Hambone
and headed towards home
A friend left
but never forgot.
©2005 Tina Clark
all rights reserved
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