Sadly inspired by a true story,
And by Brother Georg’s sad poem,
‘Old Woman, Old Dog.’
“The fidelity of a dog is a most precious gift,
And the bond with a dog is as lasting,
As the ties of this earth, can ever be.”
Konrad Lorenz
I first spotted this dirty matted old dog
Outside a veterans’ nursing home door
He looked so alone, and terribly forlorn
But today, I don’t see him there, anymore
I attempted to befriend this old dog for several weeks
I started putting food and water in the bushes, for him
But he would always rush off, whenever I got too close
Man’s cruelty to abandoned pets, one of our greatest sins
I spent many days trying to convince him, I was a friend
I even enlisted my spouse, and several friends, to help me
But this old dog I called ‘Scruffy’ would not trust anyone
His heart had been broken, that was extremely plain to see
One day, as I approached the bushes near that nursing home
I saw old Scruffy sadly staring up into a fourth floor window
When I gazed up there I saw an extremely old man sitting in it
He seemed to be sadly staring down at sad old Scruffy below
The next day, I decided to visit that old veteran in the window
I wanted to ask him if this old dog was his, and what I could do
But an orderly told me that the old man I had seen, had just died
“He would just sit in that window all day long, lookin so damn blue.”
“And I noticed that you been feedin that ratty old dog outside,
He keeps tryin to get in here, but we keep chasin him away;
My boss says that I should tell you to please stop feedin him,
We can’t have any flea bit, mangy dogs around here, no way.”
Strangely enough, this old broken hearted dog disappeared that day
I searched the grounds for him for many days, but never found a trace
I’m now convinced that Scruffy was the very devoted dog of that vet
And as I’m now penning this, some teardrops are running down my face
I sadly never got to meet this sad old veteran
And I sadly couldn’t help this sad old canine
But I often find myself thinking about them
Their images now, forever, etched in my mind
I first spotted this dirty matted old dog,
Outside a veterans’ nursing home door;
He looked so alone, and terribly forlorn,
But these days, he’s not there, anymore.
©2010, Mr. Ed
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Anna
Lin
Love,
Sheri
One disappeared the other, is still searching
Thanks Ed for this heartfelt write,
that I am sad to say enjoyed its contents
Peace be with you
William
It does reflect on modernity.
Thank you for all that you are doing to encourage people to appreciate and protect our environment. A l l . of nature's wonders, animal, plant, and mineral.
As a dog-owner [or perhaps it would be better to say, 'Being owned by a series of dogs'], I particularly appreciate your passionate and intelligent efforts on their behalf.
Peace!
Phyllis
Regis
I didn't need to read this, it made me more depressed than I already am...Ed (but keep writin' bout this type of stuff, it is you and I appreciate you for it)
they died within hours of one another.
sad the old vet could not have his old dog with him for a bit.
m
Bless you dear friend! just for who you are! Jasmin Horst
Thank You for sharing
John