Old Jake

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In the quiet corners of a shelter dim,
A kind soul entered, her mission grim.
She sought not youth with a frolic's leap,
But the oldest heart, long left to keep.

"Who bears the weight of years untold?"
She asked, her voice both firm and bold.
We led her to old Jake's side,
Where hope, not just the dog, had died.

Jake's eyes, once bright, now softly glowed,
His face told stories of roads less trod.
With cancer's mark and skin worn thin,
He'd watched his chances grow ever dim.

Melani knelt, her gaze met his,
In that still moment, born was bliss.
Not just a rescue, simple and plain,
But love's pure pact, forged in silent pain.

For her, no beast too frail or old,
Her heart a sanctuary, brave and bold.
She came not for a companion's grace,
But to cradle a fading soul, a last embrace.

Now Jake, in his twilight's tender clutch,
Feels the love he craved so much.
God bless the woman with strength to choose
The one most lost, with least to lose.

Heroes walk among us, saints unseen,
Who look beyond what is, to what might have been.
Thank Melani, with voices loud!
For loving the forgotten, she stands proud.

February 2, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

**Golden Years**

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In these days, my naps stretch longer,  
And walks are gentle strolls along.
Where once I zoomed, now I shuffle,
Squirrels watch my fetching game go wrong.

My fur's lost some of its springy bounce,
With grey whispers around my muzzle's frame.
To some, this might spell sadness,
Missing youthful leaps, a wilder game.

But these golden years? I treasure each one,
No chew toy could weigh the same.
Butterflies escape my slower steps,
Yet every flower's scent calls my name.

My barks have softened, a quiet hush,
Yet love shines in my gaze, undimmed,
No couch leaps, but in my human's lap,
Views unfold, and life's edges, trimmed.

Gentle nudges replace playful nips,
Our bond deepens beyond measure.
With age comes calm, a whispered wisdom,
Each moment now a cherished treasure.

No longer a pup, yet my heart swells
With love and loyalty, rich and bold.
So here's to us, the seasoned souls,
With stories of love and loyalty, told.

May our naps be long, our treats abound,
In this gentle, golden hold.
A toast to the noble, aged hearts,
Where love and life beautifully unfold.

April 29, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Each Wagging Tail

In fields of gold and city streets, Beneath the sun’s embracing heat, A guardian with paws and fur, Whispers wisdom soft and sure.

With eyes that hold the ancient stars, A simple truth, unmarred by scars: To love as though each day’s the last, With loyalty that holds fast.

They teach us without a single word,In each wagging tail, the joy stirred. Live now, they say, in playful barks, Chase life’s light where it embarks.

Forgive quick, forget the slight, Hold no grudges past the night. Find the joy in simple things, Like autumn leaves or butterfly wings.

By the hearth, they rest their l chin, Content with just the warmth within. For they know well the wisest creed, To fulfill love’s basic need.

So look to them, these noble beasts,
Who feast on life, not on its feasts. And maybe we, in their wise gaze,
Can learn to brighten our own days.

April 14, 2024
Created By
MarkWaldrop

A Sacred Gift

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In the quiet whispers of dawn, you’ll find, That time has streaked grey through your loyal friend’s fur, Once a vibrant youth, now serenely refined, His eyes, a soft cloud, his steps unsure.

Remember the days, unmarked and wide, When he bounded through fields, his spirit untamed? Now he ambles beside, with a dignified stride, Through the silence where once his excitement flamed.

Children grow, they stretch and reach high, Blazing through life with a voracious thirst. But your dog, steadfast under the same sky, Watches time pass, from last to first.

He was there—before love painted your world, Before joy and heartbreak were through your door. When solitude around your heart curled, His warmth was the comfort you lived for.

Through every upheaval, he was the constant, true, From apartment to house, through every shift. In your darkest moments, when few understood you, His presence alone was a sacred gift.

Cherish the naps, the walks, each moment spent, For he doesn’t complain, though his pace has slowed. Each day a treasure, silently lent, On the unspoken pact to which he’s bowed.

One day you’ll notice his lagging tread, His need to rest, mid-path, grown deep. And you’ll recall the years that sped, Through each shared journey, his promise to keep.

Nobody warns, the days discreetly flee, With the dog who has seen all shades of you. Cherish him now, let your heart see The beauty of years carried through.

So hold him close, with love that clings, Through whispered names and soft, slow walks. For in the echoes of the love he brings, Lies the deepest talk you’ll ever talk.

April 12, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Too Friendly for the Force

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In a field where the stern are revered,
A Labrador’s grin broadly appeared.
Roger, not one for the line, For sniffing out crime,
Was “too friendly,” and thus, out he veered.

Trained young for the tasks of the law,
Taiwan’s customs found one glaring flaw.
Not a trace of the mean, In his warm eyes a sheen,
For the narcotics patrol, he’d withdraw.

Yet, where strict doors closed, windows flung wide,
In earthquake’s harsh wake he’d reside.
Through rubble and fear,
His mission was clear, A rescuer with bounds none could hide.

Lee saw past the bounds of the norm,
In disasters, he’d eagerly swarm.
With a sniff and a bound,
Lost souls he found,
From tragedy, hope he’d transform.

A quake shook the roots of Taiwan, Roger’s heart and his legs carried on. The temblor’s fierce dance, Gave this pup one more chance, To prove worth beyond what’s gone.

“Too friendly?” A fault turned to gold, In the tales of his rescues, retold. Though his service concludes, And quietude broods, Roger’s legacy will warmly hold.

So here’s to the dog too affable, Whose saga proves rather adaptable. From misfit to hero, His count not near zero, In hearts and in history, he’s graspable.

April 12, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Matt

In the shelter’s embrace, under watchful eyes,Matt paced through the days, under silent skies.Day six seventy-six, just another day,Among familiar faces, in his quiet way.

Routine was his comfort, the staff his steady crew,The kennel walls, his boundaries, a world he thought he knew.But Saturday brought changes, in waves both thick and fast,Goodbyes echoed in the corridors, memories of the past.

Volunteers, with teary eyes, bade farewell without a hug,Treats tossed into his space, their departure snug.Staff members too, with somber tones, joined the farewell spree,A puzzle to Matt’s mind, “Who’ll look after me?”

Then, a moment of pure joy, a reunion so sweet,Kenai, his brother, for a playful meet.Romping in the yard, a memory reborn,A fleeting happiness, in the heart of Matt, worn.

Yet, amidst the strangeness, a twist was to unfold,A folder full of “Matt Facts,” stories told.And there, among the pages, a surprise lay in wait,“Adoption Paperwork,” sealed by fate.

The stranger, now a father, to Matt’s heart a key,Together with Kenai, a family they’d be.No more kennel walls, no more waiting in the shade,A journey to forever, together they made.

After years in the shelter’s hold, Matt found his dream, A home, a family, a place to redeem. In his new dad’s SUV, to the future, they did steer, Matt’s tale of hope, a reminder that love is always near.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

The Blood of the Lamb

In the sun-scorched fields where shadows play,
A drama unfolds in the heat of day.
A rattlesnake, deadly, with venom cold,
Struck a sheep in the face, so bold.

The venom surged, a deadly tide,
The sheep's face swollen, a painful ride.
Yet in this tale, the snake did not see,
The resilience in the blood of the sheep, so free.

For in the lamb's veins, a secret lay,
The antidote, in its blood, at bay.
Two days of swelling, yet stronger than venom's aim,
The lamb's blood fought back, reclaiming its fame.

Unfazed, the sheep continued its day,
Eating, drinking, in its own way.
Walking the fields, under the sun's glare,
Knowing well, its blood was rare.

So heed the tale of the lamb and snake,
The power of resilience, make no mistake.
Do not fear the serpent, nor its venom's bite,
Just ensure the Lamb's Blood is your light.

March 24, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Better to Have Loved and Lost

In halls where silence paints the air,
Where echoes dance, bereft of care,
A senior dog, with fur turned gray,
In sheltered shadows, finds his way.

No youthful bark, no playful leap,
Just longing sighs, in slumber deep.
Yet in his eyes, a spark remains,
A testament to love's sweet pains.

For those who've loved and seen depart
A loyal friend, a piece of heart,
Know well the pain that parting brings,
Yet cherish still the love it sings.

Better far to have shared the road,
To have eased the weight, to have lightened the load,
Than let one pass, in silent gloom,
Alone, unloved, in a shelter's room.

For every moment spent in grace,
Each gentle touch, each fond embrace,
Illuminates the darkest night,
With memories burning ever bright.

So let us choose, while yet we may,
To love, to cherish, come what may.
For better far to have loved and lost,
Than leave a soul in winter's frost.

To save one life, a noble quest,
To offer love, and give our best,
For in the end, our hearts will show,
The depth of love only they can know.

March 22, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Unconditional Love

Dogs are my favorite people, true and dear,
With tails that wag in joy, drawing near.
They speak in barks, in whines, and gentle sighs,
Their words unspoken, seen within their eyes.

In fields they roam, in dreams they chase the light,
Under the sun, beneath the moon so bright.
They love without a hint of guile or pride,
Beside us, in their loyalty, they reside.

No judgment cast, no grudges ever held,
In their embrace, our fears are swiftly quelled.
Through storms and calm, they stand by, staunch and bold,
Their warmth a refuge from the outside cold.

In every dog, a heart of gold does beat,
With every wag, they make our lives complete.
No better friend, companion, or confidant,
In dogs, we find the souls we've always wanted.

So here's to dogs, the best of all our friends,
Their love, a kind that never, ever ends.
They teach us joy, and how to truly live,
To them, my heart, my thanks, I gladly give.

March 22, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

A Whisper of Hope

In life's shadowed valleys, where fear often dwells,
Came a whisper of hope, like distant church bells.
The news of a storm, a tempest named cancer,
Led me to seek, in companions, an answer.

To the shelter I went, where dreams seem to pause,
And there I found Rich, with his wise, gentle paws.
At the back of his kennel, resigned to his fate,
Till our eyes met, and it wasn't too late.

Then Ronny, with spirit, a lifeline extended,
Through a lick and a look, our hearts quickly blended.
Two souls long forgotten, in silence they pleaded,
For a love just like mine, so desperately needed.

They entered my life in a moment so grim,
When the light of my hope was exceedingly dim.
They brought laughter and joy, a respite from sorrow,
A promise of sunshine, each new tomorrow.

When tears needed shedding, they offered their fur,
A comfort, a tissue, their presence a cure.
In moments of doubt, their loyalty never waned,
Two friends on a journey, through sunshine and rain.

We battled, we fought, through each high and low,
And with each passing day, our bonded love did grow.
I needed them more than I'd ever known,
My protectors, my guides, through the unknown sown.

I emerged from the storm, with them by my side,
My heart full of gratitude, wide-eyed and wide.
For Rich and Ronny, my guardians so true,
I owe you my life, for the love that I drew.

In laughter and tears, in silence and roars,
You've given me everything, and so much more.
My companions, my heroes, in fur-cloaked disguise,
I love you, my everything, my noblest prize.

March 21, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop