Bernard the Lab

Snow white snout betrays no smile
Eyes that trust, might take a while
Slow to rise, he spots the treat
He isn't steady on his feet...
Head down low, he makes his way
Closer, closer, I smooth the gray
Upon his face and he looks up
I picture him as a little pup.
He lets me pet him on the head
Then wanders back to his twirled-up bed
Curls into a little ball
To close his eyes, and forget it all

The next day I went back again
Determined to make this dog my friend
I had stopped to buy a special treat
His eyes lit up at the sight of MEAT
Once again he was slow to rise
But I saw a little more trust in his eyes
His tail thumped twice, then one big heave
Brought him within an inch of me
This time he let me rub his side
I named him 'Bernard', and then I cried.

By day three, he was more than a friend
I could hardly wait to see him again.
The new copper glint, in his old cloudy eyes
Gave serious doubt to his earthly demise.
When he held me in his steady gaze
I finally got it! "This dog plays"!
His puppy-paws were put back on
As we sprinted toward the patch-work lawn
I searched around and found a stick
He brought it back! "Bernard knows tricks"!

For almost a month we played this game
His smile returned, he wasn't as lame
His spirit was back, he trusted again
His tail went crazy, when he saw his 'friend'.
His winter years weren't spent by a fire
Where dignified dogs curl-up and retire.
They weren't spent in a cozy home
Lavished with love, and his own special bone
Bernard's winter years, were spent behind bars
Snatching at moments, and healing up scars.

My month-long friendship with Bernard the Lab
Ended one bleak winter day
I snatched our stick from where I'd stashed it
But no Bernard came out to play.
No white snout was there to greet me
No more glint from trusting eyes
No more thumps of wagging friendship
They needed space; he was euthanized..