A Faithful Dog

2001

I wrote this poem shortly after learning of my late Great-Uncle Maynard's dog Daisy's death. I believe she was killed by a mountain lion. I think this is the only poem I've ever written about a specific dog. She was a beautiful collie.

She played among the daisies in the field
Beneath her master's watchful eye
She ran and fetched the sticks her master threw
And she stuck close to him
She was a faithful dog

When his visitors came,
She played with them
When his family came,
She played with them

She romped and ran and played and jumped
She loved everyone she met
She played with the children
And she played with the adults
And she stuck close to her master
She was a faithful dog

She stuck close when he was hurt
She stuck close when he was ill
She stuck close when he was well
She loved with all of her heart
Her heart as big as the mountains around the ranch

She and her master grew older
She and her master grew slower
And still she stuck by him
She was a faithful dog

One day her master was gone
Never to return

And she stuck by his chair
Her sorrow kept her there
But still she played
And still she loved
She was a faithful and playful dog

One day she was gone
Never to return

She played among the daisies in the field
Beneath her master's twinkling eye