by Perry McCarney

Created on: April 04, 2009   Last Updated: February 04, 2011

Rescued Puppy

Alone now, lying on a strange softness,
Though sounds and scents tell of others near.
Others like me I can tell that much,
Not the giants I would love, yet fear.
Their kind attention I always sought,
But far too often the cost was dear.

The hunger had faded away with time,
But now I've eaten it's back again.
My body is purely skin and bone,
The growing joints throb with pain.

The two-leg gods have named my breed,
I am one they call Great Dane.

I hear the sound of a door opening,
Then footsteps crossing a concrete floor.
My puppy legs are long but weak,
Yet still I struggle up once more.
The human stops before the door of bars,
Let me love you I implore.

He enters into this small run I'm in,
The smell he carries spikes my mind.
Food, more food in a bowl of metal,
This god is good I therefore find.
My tail wags of its own accord,
A human then who's true and kind.

To eat or greet, what a quandary;
Food or attention, of both I'm starved.
The bowl is placed as he pats my head,
A mash, from a tin of puppy food carved.
Lick his hand and then some food,
Keeping my focus evenly halved.

The food goes down with ease this time.
Not too much, because soon I'm filled.
My hope is causing my heart to pound,
But I'm stroked, my shaking stilled.
I look up into his eyes of green and blue,
With kindness and concern they're filled.

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