A "black dog" day

Sometimes looking through old photo's, rather like drinking on

your own, can only lead to one thing

- a heavy dose of the "black dog".

Admittedly I won't be suffering from a hangover of the head thumping

kind tomorrow but the knowledge of that does nothing to

lift the melancholy I'm feeling today.  I don't know what got

me started but I've been looking through my rather scant collection

of snapshots of my past companions and I don't mind telling you

they brought a smile to my lips, a tear to my eyes

and a very big lump in my throat to boot.

Call for Kipling.  That man has the uncanny ability for putting

into words exactly what I've been thinking and feeling.

Grab a tissue or three and read on at your peril ......

THE POWER OF THE DOG

There is sorrow enough in the natural way

For men and women to fill our day;

And when we are certain of sorrow in store,

Why do we always arrange for more?

Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware

Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

My first ever dog - DeerhoundX - Fly.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

The handsome SalukiX lurcher - Spider

 
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find - it's your own affair, -
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

Little Fay the greyhound as a pup.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!),
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone - wherever it goes - for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear!

The boy who stole my heart - Geordie the deerhound as a pup

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent,
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve;
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long -
So why in - Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

The mad, bad and dangerous to know - Miss Mouche!

There's only one missing from the role call but sadly I don't
have a single picture of Joe but that won't stop me from
remembering him.