Sword

"Wherever your spirit be, Sword, let it stay close

As oft many a troubled one never perch

But let yours find home...a home in our hearts

Tony and I, and others"

Sword, we christened him

Tony and I, near Westgate Shopping Mall

A small, black-furred canine of a German Shepherd

Tony ruffled him, teased him even

And to protect his turf, little Sword barked

And advanced timidly to Tony

Chiwawa would have been proud

My love for Sword registered immediately

Never cared about the Japanese Spitz or the Bulldog

Or the Terrier

I remember how Sword could pose for photos

We could stand there and wait for the click

May be I could hear Sword interrupt,

“C’mon, buddy, click that thing…been wagging

My tail for far too long..”

One morning, Sword poo-pooed in the office

Well, in a small carton box

As we cleaned up, Sword would look on

All innocent, all repentant

May be saying,

“Folks, that was just a small poo,

Cheer up, that was not a honey-badger’s fart!”

Two months later, Sword dies

Tony and I take him to a post-mortem

We bury him together with his collar

All I am left with are his photos

And wonderful memories of him.

All pictures copyright by the author

C) Lorot Salem 2011