Wednesday 11 June 2014

Please Step Over the Sleeping Dog

by Mary Lynn Tipton

for "Mike"

Please step over the sleeping dog,
His tired bones are old and sore,
Please step over the sleeping dog,
He's earned his place on the kitchen floor.

He served his master through rain and sun,
He worked his heart out all his life,
And when his master went to town
He worked as hard for his master's wife.

His hearing's gone, his eyes are dim,
His legs are weak, he's grown quite thin,
You really shouldn't bother him,
He needs his rest today.

But his ears stand up and his tail wag, wags
When he spies a bitch with her tail a'flag,
And he still drops down to a stylish crouch
When e're there's lambs and ewes about.

His kingdom is a humble farm,
His subjects sheep, their home a barn,
His barking rings a sharp alarm
When strangers come too near.

The other dogs respect his place,
They yield to him with grumbling grace,
Ewes tell their lambs about his power,
With sadness watch his final hours.

When he was young he ran for miles,
He took command, he worked with style,
But now he needs to rest awhile,
Don't push him off the couch.

The younger dogs now do his chores,
He doesn't want to work no more,
He likes a walk, a truck ride too,
But most of all, a pet from you.




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