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Open Poetry #41
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Blue
| Open Poetry #41 |
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Blue |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria 
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BLUE Jack had saddled his horse to ride away but to his wife before he went, He said, “watch out for snakes today for their presence is a common event, Don’t let the kids go down to the creek, for snakes lie where the water flows, Young Jimmy’s inclined to wander away and he knows not the danger they pose.” “Leave it an hour or two after I’ve gone and then let old Blue off the chain, He’ll know not to follow me out by then and stay here till I’m home again,” He then kissed his wife and bid her goodbye, before he headed away to the west, He said, “I’m sure that I’ll be back home again before the sun sinks over the crest.” When the sun came up over the distant range it was an orange ball of fire, And Mary knew as the day wore on with the temperature rising higher That she’d have to bring the children inside, out of the heat of the day, For she was always inclined to worry a lot when her husband was away. When time was right she let Blue off the chain and called to her children three, She said,” come on kids, you can come inside and keep me company, Your Dad will be home again this afternoon and it’s to hot to play outside,” The two elder children were quite content but young Jimmy suddenly cried. “I don’t want to come inside,” he said, “ I want to play out in the scrub,” But his mother was firm and took him in and said, “ why your still only a bub,” So she gave them some toys with which to play and carried on with her work, But after lunch when she found Jimmy was gone she nearly went beserk. First of all she yelled out his name but he failed to answer her call, Then around the house in her frantic haste with a fear she was unable to stall, She screamed out to her other two kids to come and help her look for Jim And she cursed herself for a careless fool for not keeping an eye on him. Then she suddenly realized that Blue was gone and it gave her a sudden hope, That if the dog was watching over young Jim then he might be able to cope, Then mum and the kids ran down to the creek yelling and calling his name But only an eerie silence remained and she had to shoulder the blame. Through the scrub and bushes they searched, where could Jimmy have gone, Her brain and heart were beating so fast as she frantically hurried on, Then through the pregnant silence she heard, her husband’s horse’s whinny clear, Happy now that her husband was home but in her heart was a terrible fear. The three of them ran anxiously home and fell exhausted into his arms, Sobbing out their traumatic news, hoping Jimmy had come to no harm, Jack said, “ we must keep a level head, it mightn’t be as bad as we think, The fact that Blue has gone as well, perhaps they’ve gone to the creek for a drink.” Jack climbed back on his weary horse and silently prayed to God he’d find His little boy Jim and the old blue dog, their safety utmost on his mind, About a half a mile through the dingo scrub he came on some open land And the sight that greeted him beneath a tree was at first hard to understand. The little boy sat on the dusty earth with old blue’s head in his arms Crying as if his heart would break and on his face a sad look of alarm, Jack didn’t know then about the snake that had risen at Jimmy to bite Or about the fact that Blue had rushed in ever ready and willing to fight. The little boy rose to meet his dad but his poor heart was filled with pain, For the old blue dog was lying quite still, never would he rise again, For there in the dust was a tangled mess that once was a six foot brown, The dog had saved the little boys life while sacrificing that of his own. It was with a mixture of sorrow and joy that he took Jimmy home to his wife, God answered their prayers through the old blue dog and kept Jim free from strife, And later that evening he fetched old Blue and buried him there in a sheltered grave, And the sign that he painted on the cross above “Thanks Blue for the life you saved.” |
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| © Copyright 2007 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Artic Wind Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080Realm of Supernatural |
Wonderful Linsday! read it twice in like 1 minute ! nice read well done ARCTIC WIND |
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Earth Angel Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215Realms of Light |
I've got a lump in my throat. I'm certainly pleased that I can key a response, because I sure couldn't speak it. LP, your stories are always engaging and they hold my attention from the first line down to the very last. Love to you, Aussie Man! Linda  |
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2dalimit Member Elite
since 2000-02-08
Posts 2228Mississippi coast |
Good flow, good story, good read. Thanks, Melton |
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
Certainly a story to bring out the tears but I enjoyed it nevertheless. When I was young and on a farm for a brief spell I never gave snakes a thought. Remembering that now brings on a chill because I didn't have a dog called Blue around and wouldn't have known what to do. |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Your story/poems are very well written and this one brought tears to my eyes. Is this a true story? Ida |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Arctic Wind, your response is always appreciated, thank you, I received your message and I'm greatful for that. Linda I'm so glad you enjoy my poems for I always love reading yours, you have a great talent and I always enjoy them. Thanks Melton for your kind response much appreciated. Helen, Snakes can be pretty scary things and we certainly have plenty of them here in Australia. The last time my wife and I were in Africa we saw a death adder crawl across the road in front of our car, but I find that if you leave them alone they will leave you alone. My appollogy Ida for making you cry but it was a sad story, The basis of the story did happen and I just added my version to it. Thank you for your kind words. Lindsay |
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Roniece Dawson-Bruce Member Ascendant
since 2000-01-29
Posts 5689Sydney, Australia |
gosh... what a wonderful piece you have written.. very much enjoyed... thank you RDB Be kind at heart....for everyone you meet has their own battle to fight......... |
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vandana
since 1999-10-22
Posts 10463USA |
nice read  |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
RDB and Vandana, this is becoming a habit thanking you two together but I do thank you and Appreciate your comments. take care. Lindsay |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Catching up. Just read this story and it is very interesting. I too am foolhardy and never think about the snakes when I garden. "Late" |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
I love your poetry and the stories that you tell. You make me realize that I have so much to learn. I am glad that you have a large library on this site. |
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