MY HOUND AND THE LORD’S

This poem is for my dog Sam. Or, as his name really is, Samaruel. Or, Samaruel, as my wife calls him.

Now Sam ain’t dead yet (thankfully) and neither am I, but we both will be. One day. And I’ve seen Death come awful close to both of us a coupla times. You know how that is. So I figured I’d get my licks in early in this world. Fas as Sam is concerned.

Now I’ve had a lotta great dogs and other animals over time. But Sam and I have been through stuff together that, well, it’s like a bond of blood. Or blood mixed with blood.

Now I hope to see all my critters after I’m dead. But Sam and I, after we’re both dead, I plan for us to go a roaming. Far as far can get us, wide as wide will go.

So here’s my verse to my buddy. He’s flesh and blood and bone and fur like I’ve never really known. I helped deliver him (like me he tried to breech and had to be turned), raised him from a pup, and have shared close now to a decade of my life with him.

He’s a helluvah dog.

Hope you enjoy.

 

MY HOUND AND THE LORD’S
                     (for Sam)

He’ll always be my beast
My hound and the Lord’s
By heaven, sky, and ground
Come famine, or come feast

He tracks the forest green
He scouts the river banks
Mountains, fields, redoubts
He runs beside me free
Happy in his thanks

Yet grateful full am I
He calls me his and friend
For in his loyal trust
I joy, and do depend

The roads we share are long
The hunger and the cold
The heat does wear us both
But time has made us old

Summer long in song
Autumn fair and sweet
Winter’s dark is deep
Spring again, and dawn,
One day we both shall sleep

Yet he shall be my beast
My hound, and the Lord’s
Eternity is long
Death then is but the least
Of crossings we did ford

For in some other land
Upon some other world
My dog and I shall stand
Our hearts both long unfurled
My hand upon his head
Bright gleam within his eye
We’ll ask for no new bed
Nor shall we fade or die
He’ll run and scout for me
I’ll laugh and follow suit
We’ll pass a thousand leagues
My beast, myself – renewed
For in that coming day
With stars but without night
We both shall find our way
No distance to respite
For he shall be my beast
And I shall be his friend
That shall be our fate
Together without end…