Poems and Songs I Love

About Life / About Love / About Children / About Moms / About Dads /About Cancer  About God / Christmas

Dog Poems


Holly, and Jacob
1986


Real Life
(Jeff Carson)

 I was young, he was old, we both were the same age
 Everyday playin’ fetch, shaking hands, he’d lick my face
 and I was unaware the day would come
 And when he died, for the first time I knew what real pain was

  And I never was the same again
 From that moment on, real life began

 Senior high, girlfriends, football games, graduation
 Summer break, spent my time, fillin’ out applications
 A few superficial years went by, they were all a blur
 Then in the most unlikely situation, there you were

 And I never was the same again
 From that moment on, real life began
 With you, with you

 By your side, scare to death, felt the pain you were fighting
 Placed my palm on your head, spoke your name, just keep tryin’
 And then you closed your eyes and took one last breath
 And when it was over, you looked up, 
I laid our baby across your breast

 And I never was the same again
 From that moment on, Real Life began

Listen to the song, "Real Life"


"Friends"
Jacob and Holly
soft pastels

.At the death of Boatswain, the Newfoundland dog who was the trusted friend of Lord
Byron, the famed English poet had a monument erected on his grave at Newstead Abbey.
He then wrote the following poem, which was etched on one side of the octagonal shaft:

.
Boatswain
When some proud son of man returns to earth,
Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth,
The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And storied urns record who rests below;
When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been.

But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, the foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his master's own,
Who labors, lives, fights, breathes for him alone -
Unhonored falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth.

While man, vain insect, hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole, exclusive heaven!
Ye! Who behold, perchance, this simple urn,
Pass on;  it honours none you wish to mourn!
To mark a friend's remains these stones rise.
I have never known but one - and here he lies.
.



 

.
If You Can
(unknown author)
.
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
 If you can resist complaining, and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday, and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when,
through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no
prejudice against, creed, color, religion or politics,
If you can give love unconditionally without pressure or expectation,
Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.
.

.
   "A Tribute to My Dog, Leben"

One More Day
(Diamond Rio)

  Last night I had a crazy dream
 A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
 I didn't ask for money
 Or a mansion in Malibu
 I simply wished for one more day with you

 One more day
 One more time
  One more sunset maybe I'd be satisfied
 But then again
I know what it would do
 Leave me wishin' still for one more day with you
 One more day

     First thing I'd do is pray for time to crawl
 I'd unplug the telephone
Keep the TV off
I'd hold you every second
  Say a million I love yous
 That's what I'd do with one more day with you
.

Back to: "A Tribute to My Dog, Leben" / Poems and Songs I Love

See My Dog Paintings

Paintings of my Dogs:
"Fire Talk" / "With The Roses"  / "Dog & Butterfly" "The Good Shepherd" / "Friends"