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Lost and Found - A Boy's Best Friend #8
| Open Poetry #13 |
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Lost and Found - A Boy's Best Friend #8 |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada 
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Lost and Found - A Boy's Best Friend Below the lights that glistened, 'neath the dark, foreboding sky; Out of the depths of darkened streets, she gave a mournful cry. She focussed ... unfamiliar sounds, and struggled to define, This place where sorrow filled the night, she shook with fright, and whined. Her eyes, they darted frantically, to catch a loving eye, But in amongst these crowded streets, she gave another cry. No sights she could distinguish, through these long and lonely days, She shrank amongst the trashcans, in the darkened alleyways. She shivered as she raised a paw, to no one ... in despair; This tired and lonely orphan, was a sight of disrepair. Her fur was once a glistening coat, that hands had lightly brushed, But now a matted rag she wore, no loving hands did touch. Her eyes that twinkled with delight, as children called her name, Were miles away, she heard them not ... as they called out in vain. She sank into the shadows; timid, far too tired to run; Her broken spirit, limping now, four days, she had been gone. Away from all the faces she had come to know and love, Replaced by careless grumblings, and ignored by those above. Approaching strangers ... "Caution!" ... she began to give a growl; And wary now, she watched them, as they cornered her somehow. A loop was flung around her neck, she struggled to break free! A feeble effort, she did try, then sank beneath their knees. A darkness then surrounded her, as roughly she did rise; And gratefully, she drifted off ... a heaving groan and sigh. She woke to barking, heavy cage, of steel she was encased; With neighbors who, abandoned there, yelped 'tward their coming fate. She joined them in their frantic barks, each time their fury raged; But unknown faces still remained, beyond her cold, stark cage. She languished there, 'twas drifting fast, her days were numbered now; And though she could not comprehend, she seemed to know somehow. No longer did she hold out hope, or bark at strangers when, They slowly walked beyond her cage while searching for a friend. She felt it ... knew the end was near; lost hope was in her eyes; But suddenly she heard a sound, and much to her surprise ... A little boy, not more than five, walked slowly in this place; His tiny hand held firmly by his father's warm embrace. His eyes were filled with sorrow of a boy who'd lost all hope; He started down the aisles of cage, like walking on tightrope. She stood upon her trembling legs, and gave a muffled cry, She uttered little yelps and whines ... but he just passed her by. Dejected, there she rummaged up the strength that she once knew; She could not let him pass her by ... he was "the one" she knew! A bark, a yelp, much louder now, she tried to catch his ear; Above the others, she did cry, a happy blissful cheer! He hesitated, cocked his head as she let out a wail; He looked up to his dad and turned ... she wagged her ragged tail. It took him only moments to lock eyes upon her own, As recognition slowly dawned, she beckoned him along. A moment passed, he stood so still, and shock was in his eyes; A wonder filled his boyish face as then he recognized His poor bedraggled puppy he had passed without a thought, Was hiding under matted fur, a sorry sight she was. She wagged her tail more readily, as he began to run; His sparkling eyes were twinkling now ... remembrance ... they had won! He dropped to knees and reached within her cage with eager hands; She wagged and wiggled as he pressed his face against the pen. Her tongue reached out and slobbered then, a sloppy puppy kiss; The little boy grinned with delight, his heart was filled with bliss. His smiling face looked skyward, and he thanked the Lord above, For helping him to find his friend, his wondrous puppy love. And as they turned to leave this place, where she had spent her time; She turned and looked up to the boy, and softly then, she sighed. /Kit McCallum |
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| © Copyright 2001 Kit McCallum - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Kit~ Well just go ahead and tug my heartstrings this morning ! This is first heart wrenching ... then heart warming !  Loved the ending !  I'm a sucker for a happy puppy tail/tale !~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ |
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Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Well you sure know how to make my coffee go cold...had to read it twice. This has to go to the S.P.C.A. Kit, will you print and give it to them or will I? I am a sucker for a saved animal and have fostered many so they don't meet their fate. I wished every town would do what Vancouver does, the S.P.C.A. encourages you to "board" spares rather than them meet their demise. This was simply wonderful, and such a tear-jerker. I sure would like to send it to our local paper to have it published on the "Adoption Page" issued on Sunday, may I? I think everyone should! Great piece to be really proud of. Oh Lord, but I have written you a book, sorry! |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Kit, dear, thank you for sharing this with me....FYI, this IS the one of yours that I think will be most appropriate! So appreciated hearing from you! Hugs, K |
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Irish Rose Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263 |
Ok, I'm tearful, dear Lord, this is heart-wrenching, what a sight, I pictured the entire thing and thank goodness they went home together!!!!!! |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Marge: Awww ... you should have seen me writing this one a while back Marge, cried through half of it, LOL ...a sappy puppy tail written when I was missing my old girl ... ~Mysteria: Thank you so much ... and please never apologize for writing such a wonderfully heartfelt note Mysteria. If you'd like to submit it for me, I don't mind at all. I don't really know how it all works, but anything I can do to help animals, I'm all for. I live and breathe them. ~Sunshine: You're welcome Karilea, I'm happy to have you read this one to the kids, hugs to you! ~Irish Rose: I remember when I was writing this, I had about 4 different endings in mind Kathleen ... but I was crying too much, and thought I'd better choose the happy one or I'd be in trouble, LOL! Much appreciation to all you animal lovers, /Kit |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
My goodness you can weave a tale and our hearts at the same time ... and this tender tail waggin render reminded me of one of the first poems I ever read of yours.. and how it touched me.... and how we connected.... your love of animals is one of your sweetest muses. And your muse was in rhyme divine mood for this gem!! I love your imperfections ... I love your everything ... |
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Packratmike Senior Member
since 2001-02-25
Posts 632California, USA |
Kit...I am such a sucker for stories like this one. Big ol' lump in my throat right now. Thank You! Mike |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Janet Marie: Thank you so very much. I revisited my original post and yours this morning after reading your note, and between Misty and your sweet "Tuna Man" Casper ... my eyes are now a big old waterfall. Sigh ... time does have a way of healing, just so slowly sometimes. Love ya JM. ~Mike: You are welcome Mike ... I'm sorry for the lump in your throught, but I'm so very glad you enjoyed this one, thank you for these thoughts. Much appreciation to you both, /Kit |
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NIAI Member
since 2001-03-29
Posts 52 |
Wonderfull !! Reminds me of my trips to the S.P.C.A. - when I adopted Max & Alex. I actually shed a tear of joy reading your poem. Thank You |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Wonderful little story full of feelings and emotions and a happy reunion...James |
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Joyce Johnson
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912Washington State |
Oh, wonderful. I loved your poem and the story behind it. My grandson (though grown) found his beloved lost pet this way after going to the pound over and over. My daughter lost her dog in the big city once, and found him again to the intense joy of the dog and the whole family. Keep up the good work. Joyce |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
Good God Kit this is great story telling....you should be writing children's books! I definitely got caught up in the story and the flow and rythum of the piece made it so easy to follow! Bravo! Dear lady! The role of poetry is to utter the un-utterable; to open up |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Hey! That was really cool! Can I pass it along. I know a few that would really enjoy it...almost as much as I did! jwesley |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Gee, I thought for a minute you were writing about my ex-wife!  This is a real charmer, Kit, and you told it so well...you're a pretty cool cat yourself!  |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Kit .... oh how sweet.... thank you for remembering "Tuna Man".. its been just about a year.  Though my soul may sit in darkness, |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~NIAI: Thank you so much for the sweet comment, I'm very glad you enjoyed NIAI! ~James: I'm a sucker for a happy reunion, thank you for the kind words James! ~Joyce: Two happy endings Joyce, that's wonderful!!! I'm so glad everyone was able to find each other again, thank you for telling me about these happy endings! ~Ethome: *smiling* Thank you sooooo much Eric, what a wonderfully encouraging response, many hugs for your thoughts! ~JWesley: I'm so glad you enjoyed, and please feel free to pass this along ... I would be honoured. Thank you! ~Balladeer: LOL @ the ex-wife! And thank you for the kind words, I always appreciate your thoughts Michael ... ~Janet Marie: You're welcome JM, that was such a lovely tribute poem to Casper ... it's coming up on 2 years for me in a few weeks, hugs to you ... Much appreciation to all, /Kit |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
It's almost quitting time, I just heard a voice that means so much to me... I should be smiling ear to ear instead of sitting here sniffling and blubbering! LOL. This is wonderful, Kit... a great tale told with poetic perfection! |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
~Suthern: I always manage to catch you at work don't I, LOL ... hugs to you for the tears and blubbering, I'm glad you enjoyed this one Suthern (I'll have to put a warning on the title for you in the future so they don't catch you crying at your desk). Many thanks .... Much appreciation, /Kit |
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