This poem was sent to me by my father-in-law, following the notice about Dusty’s euthanasia today. It’s so lovely I thought I’d share it with you. The author, Christopher Tatchell Winter, was my husband’s 2X great grandfather. I will check, but I believe it would have been written around 1900. (Ignore the way WordPress mangled the spacing in the first stanza).
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Dear, dear little Jack, my companion & friend
Few now are my years, soon cometh the end
And I thought to have had you until I depart
But no more will I lessen the pain of my heart
My dear little dog, so faithful & true
I never shall know another like you
Much that passes for love may be but a cheat
But your love was constant & full & complete
No more will you meet me & run half a mile
To leap in my arms & my sorrow beguile
If but for a moment it then would depart
And sunshine & gladness would enter my heart
Oh, dear little Jack, I call you in vain
But why should I sorrow, why should I complain
It can’t bring you back, I know that is true
And yet all the same I will sorrow for you
And now at my door, you rest in your grave
And over it many a flower shall wave
In winter the snow on it softly shall fall
But no more will you answer & come to my call
.
The sketch of a Winter dog, presumably Jack:
Shawn L. Bird 
I love the poem, so proper, but also so much feeling and love expressed. 🌹
Yes, I agree. It’s an old style, but you can tell he really loved his old dog. 🙂
🙂
dear ms shawn,
my heart felt sypathies go out to you and your family as your bestest friend got a ticket to the holy ghost revival in the skies as i read this belated poem it brought tears to me as i have lost my dog of late as well. keep up the great work as you are inspiration to a lot of us. God Bless
your friend ,
General BT Hope
My condolences to you as well.
[…] poem for Jack. […]
As disconcerting as it is to have a eulogy with your name in it, this is still a very beautiful and touching poem.
Sorry.
it is sweet, isn’t it.
Oh my goodness. This definitely brought a tear to my eye. What a loss! And such a sweet way to remember Jack.
Imagine, he lived over a hundred years ago, and still the reminiscence is poignant.
No finer love is there than between man and dog.
Well, I don’t know if I’d say that, but there is certainly no finer devotion.
I’m sorry for your loss, Shawn. 😦
Thanks.
heart warming, nice one 😎
thought of jack > 🙂
kewl poem …..
Thanks.
That was very touching. A lovely tribute to a much-loved dog.
Thanks, Edwina.
It’s never easy losing an animal. The companionship they offer is second to nothing.
I even miss the snare drum of those little toe nails clicking down the hall… 😦
Reblogged this on Iconography ♠ Incomplete.
What a lovely gesture, and lovely tribute… Sorry for your loss Shawn
Thank you, Ritu.
This is so beautiful and captures the heartbreak of loosing our companions so well:-(
Please do. Give him a good belly rub for me.
Wow that makes me want to go and cuddle my little Dachsund x
How sweet. I hope you found comfort in these lovely words.
Thank you.
64 and 82 (website and email) are a familiar combination! We are clearly contemporaries.
and this is one I wrote for past old friends left behind…
ON LEAVING FAIRDOWN
Shades of cows roam
the paddocks
churned up mud
where past hay-piles lay.
Hester, seeking
her small red calf.
Sometimes lesser shades
stubby, wagging,
in favourite sun places.
Swift flash of fur
green eyes following the cows.
Quiet now.
Waiting.
Lovely.
😢 sad but wonderful, a fine tribute *hug*
Thank you, Simon.
Sweet and tender words to ease the loss of your very dear friend.
I thought so, too.
Very sweet and heartfelt. Still miss my guy.
Only the best Black Lab Ever. I swear I’m not biased, much.
They just get in there and fill all the hollows of the heart, don’t they?
Sorry for your loss. We have two old dogs, one 13 and one 14 years old.
I just got a sympathy card signed by the entire vet office, which led to another weep fest. >>sigh<< Time will heal, I know, but oh it is a hard journey.