~   Miss Josie and Dubie   ~

Miss Josie and Dubie walked by every night,
Past the houses lined up side by side.
A New England setting, tiny and quaint,
Four seasons of them passing by.

An elderly woman, Miss Josie was,
A poor widow, who lived all alone.
Nineteen forty or so, the depression in tow,
Leaving cupboards as dry as a bone.

Not a penny to spare, was the smell in the air,
In this dark morn of hunger and tea.
Sipping it slow, warming old bones from snow,
Miss Josie, sat content with her steep.

A cry from the door, interrupted her chores,
As she approached, she heard a dog whine.
Riddled with fright, at this hour of the night,,
Who would pay her a call at this time?

Door cracked just an inch, so her small nose could pinch,
Its way through, for Miss Josie to see.
Low and behold, on the ground, in the cold,
Lay poor Dubie, on the stoop, in the sleet.

Like a thief in the night, Josie's neighbor took flight,
Leaving Dubie behind, when he went.
Waiting diligently, on the stoop, patiently,
The Lab stayed, until he was spent.

His black coat had a glaze, from the ice the rain made,
Miss Josie drug his body inside.
Unbeknownst to her heart, Dubie would be a part,
Of her life, till the day that she died.

They walked every night, around nine and in spite,
Of the elements, four seasons brings.
Never missing a day, whether sunny or gray,
Through winters of snow and wet springs.

Bundled up for the job, Miss Josie would nod,
To neighbors, who admired her kind deed.
Two friends strolling in stride, down the street ,side by side,
Both grateful the neighbor took leave.

They walked in the eves, of the New England breeze,
Content with the one, each adored,
Watching Year after year, I could see it was clear,
Why Miss Josie found Dubie that morn.

COPYRIGHT©2003 BONNIE TORRENTE