Aging Susie

My darling Susie cannot hear,
Is almost blind as well.
She finds her way around the yard
By her keen sense of smell.
She hasn't lost her appetite,
Seems to be feeling well.
I don't know if she's hurting
Because Susie doesn't tell.

She spends her day just sleeping
Until just before the dark,
I let her out into the yard
To run around and bark.
She's made herself protector
Of me and this old place
And is warning all the wildlife
To stay out of our space.

She doesn't hear me call her name
So I turn on the light.
She sees and knows her job is done.
We're both safe for the night.
I let her out a while ago
To answer Natures call.
I knew she wouldn't wander far
And worried not at all.

She sometimes takes a little swim
In the ditch across the way,
When it is full of water, but
It is quite dry today.
Through the window I saw a car pull up
And its driver step outside.
He stood looking down into the ditch.
I ran out terrified.

Susie had decided to take a dip
Not knowing the ditch was dry.
She could not get up the slippery slope
No matter how hard she would try.
The stranger was trying to call her,
But of course she couldn't hear
And paid no attention to him
Until she sensed me near.

She let him take her collar then
And pull her the rest of the way.
She followed me back to the house,
With excitement enough for the day.

By: Joyce 9/7/08