The Song of Charlie

In the forests
where innocent sons of Earth
sent skilled arrows winging,
singing haunting songs of thanks
to the fled spirits of their subsistence,

In the forests
that pale faced men laid low
with ignorance and narrow thoughts
of their own fate, brought to bittersweet glory
on the ashes of native nations,

In those forests, set now with black paths
that forbid green growth
and bear swift death
to the unwary...

There is set my tale.

Prophecies of this land
would fill the ancients with foreboding.
Iron chariots speed horseless
silent on soft wheels.
Heaven's lights, harnessed by mortals,
shed Dawn's rays throughout the night.
Great metal birds course through the heavens
bearing men in their vitals
from shining coast to shining coast.

One such great metal bird
united seed with plowed furrow,
when a man met his bride
suspended far above the earth
and Nature followed one of the few courses
left untrammelled by Man's devices.

They came to settle on the land,
soft as a downy feather settled,
united, formed hearth and home,
pulling as one in the harness of matrimony,
pulling as one their combined destiny.

Early in one year
while Winter yet clenched his frozen fingers upon the earth,
and revered Ceres still mourned her daughter's captivity,
the dutiful wife joyously brought her husband a gift.
A pup she placed into his arms,
a wriggling promise of a hound's devotion,
dancing visions of loyalty,
charming scenes of tranquility,
the happy couple basking in the combined warmth
of the cheery hearth and the dog's unabashed love.

Jetty black was he against the white snow,
a mere lapful of soft fur and juvenile sinew,
new animal,
innocent to the world's implacable joys
and treacheries.

Too young to be left alone
for the long hours they were absent at their labors,
they thought, in their solicitous desire
to make his a happy life,
to contract for him a companion
to help while away his lonely hours.

Thus came a woman to their home
whose business was with the animals,
who found great peace and joy
in spending her days with the four-footed ones,
striving to return to them
the happiness they generously gave her.

Winter succumbed to Spring's gentle advances,
he was seduced to slumber beneath her flowing green cape,
while the pup grew
from warm fat lapful
to lanky adolescence.

With adolescence came merry mischief making,
actions innocent in dog's eyes,
if reprehensible to man's inscrutable sensibilities-
wanton joyous destruction of property,
unwelcome deposits on floors,
despised consumption of malodorous tidbits
snuffled from the grass.
He naively laughed at the frustrated nicknames bestowed on him,
"monster", "terrorist", "fathead",
continuing unchecked in his dervish.
Yet even in this time
of muttered threats, and musings
upon what spiteful god inspired them to accept
this creature of innocent evil
into their lives,
were found shining moments of pure joy,
and unalloyed mirth,
countless times when his mad antics amused them
as well as he.

Quaint tricks he learned,
"Beg", the picture of forlorn deprivation,
"High fives", the flying paw
swift to smack the upheld palm,
"Play dead", a sorry sham, head raised,
eyes asking "Like this?!? Like this?!"

No finer guard dog could be heard,
when one queried "Charlie, whassat?!"
and he sped to the window,
mouth agape, great ivory teeth shining, roaring fearsomely
to let all know that he was there.

He had his mortal faults,
a bit fearful of the unknown,
a retriever frightened of deep water.

But his joy on the golden sands of the shore,
and questing rambles through forest and bog
overflowed to fill the hearts of all who saw him.

One summer's night,
wild coyotes sang.
The trees rang with their chorus.
His companion compelled him to lift
his inner voice in sympathy...
in unison, all bayed.

Thus, master, mistress, companion,
nurtured him with varied joys,
food from their own plates,
expensive toys,
priceless love.
They learned to safeguard their valuables,
while he grew into a handsome black feathered giant
who greeted them with unmitigated leaping joy
had they been gone a moment, or a month.

Alas, too soon,
the Fates snip mortals' thin strands.

Having opened the door for her dog
to venture forth into a winter's night,
the tender mother,
distracted by her infant's cries,
kept her eyes from Charlie
one moment too many.

Concentrating on a transient scent
on the edge of the dark road,
he did not comprehend his demise
speeding silently to meet him.

Black dog,
black road,
O blackest night!

Stunned ears heard Death's triumphant shriek,
and Charlie's last yelp.
Frightened gaze met frightened gaze.
Dinner plates left forgotten,
they ran to meet Grief's onslaught.

Fled was his spirit before his master's arms
retrieved him from the roadside,
fled to await his turn to cross the river Styx.
Fled was his spirit as the car that knocked it thence,
fled as the Furies of curses summoned
to bedevil the heedless driver.

Grief raged rampant through sleepless nights.
Sorrow haunted the unfamiliar silence of the void
with the fancied whine
of the cold nose that quested,
and the warm brown eyes that shone
silent beacons of love.

Yet all travails must pass.
Grief's violent paroxysms will subside,
though the wound be knit with the thick white scar
of tearsoaked regret.

Peace's balm is the belief
that these gentle souls are not,
Cannot!
Be eternally snuffed.
Would his cherished flame,
be winked out on this plain,
never to shine again?

No, he gambols yet in sweet Elysium,
fit company for all noble shades
who ever brought a moment's joy
to another being.

All beloved creatures
surely await us at the gates of the wondrous unknown
with the warmth of the unflagging devotion
that won them their permanent places in our hearts,
lest God deprive Himself of His finest creations.

In Memory of Charlie
2003-2006
"Charlie, HELP!"