by Richard Hooton

Created on: May 07, 2008   Last Updated: February 18, 2010

"The Dogs of September"

The bagpipes played for Roy
One bright September Afternoon
Amid the Wasatch Forest
That would change its colors soon

Through the trees the kilt-clad pipers came
All marching to the tune,
And the bagpipes played for Roy
That fine September afternoon

Forty dogs and forty handlers
Stood to meet the judge's test,
With keen instincts and hard training
Reached down deep to find their best

Crowds were cheering, children laughing,
Dogs and handlers plied their skills
Dog and sheep collided gently
In a solemn test of wills

Each fine dog was tried and tempered,
Every handler could rejoice
As each dog performed so gamely
And rose to heed its master's voice

"That'll do, Roy," spoken softly
"That'll do," whispered again
The handler knelt to praise his dog
And felt a glowing pride within

One dog ran its finest run,
Thus the glory had been earned
Roy's good master wore the medal
For the skills that Roy had learned

What a glorious summer day
Beneath a daytime Wasatch moon,
When the bagpipes played for Roy
That bright September afternoon

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