Rescue

Every day would last for an age 

I simply sat there in a cold cage 

The dog next door would rage and rage 

I wondered why I should be there 

Six months old without a care 

Hadn't even started shedding hair. 

Loud voices and a door would slam 

A voice said 'I don't give a damn' 

The dirty mut has got to go 

It can't stay here you have to know. 

The dog has made its last mistake 

No! I will not give it a break 

I looked at him his eyes don't smile 

Hers filled with tears and cried for a while 

I sat, ears back and wagged my tail 

But it was all to no avail. 

She took me gently from his chair 

And full of tears she took me there. 

The keepers brought me food and drink 

They didn't have the time to think 

Why I sat there with a doggy frown 

My world completely upside down 

I saw people come and people go 

I never ever felt so low 

Then you came and I heard you talk 

'Can we take her for a walk'? 

They brought a lead and off we went 

The nicest hour I ever spent. 

Am I the dog you've come to save? 

I'll try my hardest to behave. 

She crouched and looked into my eyes 

And you just smiled with no surprise 

As I put my paws around her neck 

Gave a doggy hug, oh what the heck 

What happened next I'll never know 

But suddenly you had to go. 

I sat in the cage now all resigned 

No-one wanted me who would be kind. 

Then a voice I knew beyond the door 

No, two, my heart leapt at what I saw 

You with a lead and she with a toy 

This little doggy was now filled with Joy 

You gave me a home and a bed and love 

Taught me fun and right and wrong 

And forgiving mistakes that never took long 

Gardens front and back and games and runs 

And walks that went for miles and miles 

And people who greet me with loving smiles 

I ride in the car and I sleep on the bed 

I sit and watch telly with your knee for my head. 

If you go out and leave me I sit by the door 

Or sit by the window and wave with my paw 

But don't be too long for I want you to see 

That an hour for you is about seven for me. 

When I sit on my own, I think of the past 

Oh yes, I can do that but the thoughts never last 

But the future is best with playing and treats 

With a bowl full of kibbles and nice tasty meat 

When I curl up at night I remember to pray 

'Please don't let them ever send me away'. 

D-Day

Frightened, furious, determined men
Allies from Blighty, Stars and stripes, Maple leaf and more
We must always remember then
When they stormed through the tyrant's door

Moon and weather conspire to let them go
Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword
Spitting fire from the skies, unleashing hurricanes on an enemy below
Neptune's beginning of Overlord

The rest is history, long and bloody and yet
It would take a book for me to tell
Whatever else we do, we must not forget
That for you and me, the fallen fell.

An old dog remembers

I remember:

When I could run and chase a cat
And I could bark as loud as that
And I could even catch a rat
Chew to bits my favourite mat.

I was, you know, as strong as an ox
More than a match for any fox
But the budgie would sit upon my head
I would sniff the hamster going to bed
And let the children pat my head

I was made of patient stuff
And when children were a bit too rough
I thought, young things are all the same
So turned it into a boisterous game
Of chase and catch and fetch and drop
Hoping that it would never stop.

But dinner calls, and through the door
My bowl would be on the kitchen floor
Full of things I liked to eat.
Sometimes savoury, sometimes sweet
Scraps from the table, and often more.

I understand English, Welsh and Dog.
And with a bit of effort can understand Frog.
I listen to everything and know how to spell
With my lead in my mouth, I ran to the door
For I know what w-a-l-k stands for.

I remember the rides in the car
I used to think, I do hope its far.
I could run on the beach
And splash in the sea
Or play in the park
Chase a cat up a tree

Ah yes, that used to be me.

Kindle and paperback Volumes from this blog and more

I have published a Kindle and a paperback volume from the former contents of this blog augmented with more material.
It is entitled "Fragments" and, in addition to the poems previously seen here, there are short stories and two autobiographical essays; one dealing with my friendship with the iconic astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, how I worked with him and how he influenced my astronomy and writing:

Click on a book cover to see the book on Amazon Kindle.

I have another Kindle volume. This time a practical book on Observing an imaging the Sun. This volume has a Foreword written by Sir Patrick Moore:

I hope that you will enjoy one or both of these books.
Both of these books were published by aSys-Publishing 
formerly AS-Publishing
Steve Wainwright