The Dog

Of the many creatures that we typically
refer to as "domestic animals"
there is only one that as a tiny infant,
with ears and eyes barely open
and little legs barely learned to walk,
will, upon hearing the sound of a human voice,
turn away from suckling littermates
and nursing mother
to respond to that voice.

What is a dog
If not the living and precious Gift  
God gives to humans
to teach us to go to Him as they come to us,
to exhibit Loyalty in the face of doubt,
Trust in the face of fear,
and Love in the face of despair.
As little dogs, they ask nothing in return,
but the one who entrusted us with them
will come to ask an accounting 
for the care and treatment we gave 
His precious, living Gift to us,
and how we treated Each Other
as we learned from them.

Terry Thistlethwaite
copyright Chekia 2006
 

Epitaph To A Dog
by Lord Byron

Near this spot
Are deposited the Remains
of one
Who possessed Beauty
Without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the Virtues of Man
Without his Vices.
This Praise, which would be unmeaning flattery
If inscribed over Human Ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the Memory of
"Boatswain," a Dog
Who was born at Newfoundland,
May, 1803,
And died at Newstead Abbey
Nov. 18, 1808.

"A dog is the only creature on earth who 
loves you more than he loves himself"
Josh Billings
Ringo Starr
with Sophie
Paul McCartney
with Martha's puppies
A Boy and a Dog
by Marty Hale

I want my boy to have a dog,
Or maybe two or three...
He'll learn from them much easier
Than he would learn from me. 
A dog will show him how to love
And bear no grudge or hate;
I'm not so good at that myself
But dogs will do it straight. 
I want my boy to have a dog
To be his pal and friend,
So he may learn that friendship 
Is faithful to the end.  
There never yet has been a dog
Who learned to double-cross,
Nor catered to you when you won
Then dropped you when you lost. 
 
"I met Wendy Franciasco through this beautiful video. Later, I was
 happy to be able to  persuade her to write the music for 
The Weatherwax Legacy.  Thank you Wendy!" - Terry Thistlethwaite 
Photo and poem by Terry Thistlethwaite
Gwen and Nellie in the snow - January 2023