BLUEY

This section contains archival material from former Forum users.
Membership forms: http://www.abpa.org.au/membership.html
Post Reply
ALANM
Posts: 96
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
Location: North Queensland

BLUEY

Post by ALANM » Fri Oct 18, 2019 9:37 am

Bluey
(By Alan McCosker written September 2019)
He weren’t really blue, mostly black with some tan
big floppy ears, tight curly coat from his dam
four huge plates of meat and a long skinny tail
“do you want his tail docked ? ” I said “no bloody way”

When I first saw the litter from which I could pick
he waddled on over and climbed up in my lap
the owner said “ looks like, he’s picked you out”
I couldn’t stop smiling as I paid the bloke out

I think t’was my daughter who named our little man
I just could not decide, what was best for a name
and the name it just stuck as he grew from a pup
and it seemed to fit, when he beat the cat up

As he grew taller and filled out in the chest
he would ride along with me, to my job in the west
he claimed the front seat by the passenger window
and hung his head out so he could, feel the wind blow

This caused him some bother later you’ll see
when he developed the habit, to snap at close trees
I remember a time when he bit one and clung on
to be hauled out the window and dumped on his bum

If my wife and daughter were in the front seat
we had to force bluey to take the back seat
he’d sit there sit there morosely, ears hanging down
and baring his teeth if they dared to turn ‘round

Of all of the dogs that I’ve had in my life
I’d never had one who got into such strife
he’d not look for trouble, ‘cause trouble found him
but with back to the wall he never gave in

He was easy to train how to sit and lay down
he’d climb a slippery dip ladder and then he’d slide down
and like most other dogs he loved to chase ball
to get it back off the mongrel, was really a chore

When we went swimming he’d jump in and swim out
try to herd our young daughter right back to the bank
it seemed that he thought his main focus in life
was make sure she’d not drown, or get into strife

His technique to climb ladders, was near bulletproof
he could climb the sloped ladder up to the shed roof
but the vertical ladder up the side of the silo
was one ladder where he weren’t tempted to go

One day the bulk truck came in with some grain
the driver got down and his auger arranged
but before he could start up, young bluey had woke up
and charged ‘cross the yard, loudly heading to bail up

The driver then thought he was in for a mauling
so up the sloped ladder he began quickly hauling
once on the shed roof he thought he’d be safe
and called out real loudly, “call the bloody dog off”

Then he looked in amazement as blue started to follow
so he took the next route, up the side of the silo
my wife had arrived, saw blue follow him up
and latch onto his boot as he got to the top

When the dust settled and the guard-dog disarmed
we hoped that the driver had come to no harm
but he just gave a laugh and thought it a hoot
to be chased up two ladders and get bit on the boot

Outside of the house, he was meant to reside
we didn’t like dogs dropping hair from their hide
we’d leave the door open so he could see in
then he’d slowly but surely, on his belly creep in

In all of his life, he was run over two times
once back from the vet he recovered just fine
and one time in the dark I reversed down his chain
don’t know why I pulled up, just in nick of time

At the age of sixteen, I had him put down
so old and so frail he could scarce get around
on that terrible day I held him real tight
as from his old eyes, there faded the light

And still to this day more than twenty years on
as I sit writing this, the tears still do run
as I think of our bluey, our friend and companion
climbing the ladder to rest in dog heaven

Ron
Posts: 740
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2010 5:55 pm
Location: Blue Mtns.

Re: BLUEY

Post by Ron » Sun Oct 20, 2019 6:06 pm

Good yarn there Al,
Yes it certainly hurts when you lose them or have to put them down, but to try and find a positive, they do leave you with a lot of good memories don't they.
Cheers
Ron

ALANM
Posts: 96
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
Location: North Queensland

Re: BLUEY

Post by ALANM » Mon Oct 21, 2019 6:37 pm

Thanks Ron,
Scanning old prints into my computer when I came across a batch of Bluey pics. reminded me how big a part of our families life he was.
I hope that everybody has a dog like him in their life sometime.
Cheers
Al

User avatar
Shelley Hansen
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
Location: Maryborough, Queensland
Contact:

Re: BLUEY

Post by Shelley Hansen » Fri Oct 25, 2019 2:38 pm

Sounds like he was a real character Alan.

A good yarn!

Cheers
Shelley
Shelley Hansen
Lady of Lines
http://www.shelleyhansen.com

"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
(CJ Dennis "The Mooch o' Life")

ALANM
Posts: 96
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
Location: North Queensland

Re: BLUEY

Post by ALANM » Mon Oct 28, 2019 1:55 pm

Thanks Shelley,
That he was, looking back at the photos as he grew with my daughter reminds me how a big a part a dog can play in a family's life.
Cheers
Al

User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

Re: BLUEY

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Fri Nov 01, 2019 1:48 pm

As a dog person my self, and one whose current squeeze is a red cattle dog who is named Khamah-D Blue, I relate to every word you have written. They are never gone whilst held within your heart, and I firmly believe that every one we lose eventually helps find its own replacement, and shuffles over a little to make room for it. Your Bluey sounds like a dearly loved rogue and I love your tribute to him.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

ALANM
Posts: 96
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
Location: North Queensland

Re: BLUEY

Post by ALANM » Sat Nov 02, 2019 10:40 am

Thanks Maureen,
I'm glad you liked it and appreciate your comments as they align perfectly with our sentiments when it comes to the dogs in our life.
We've not replaced him even after all this time, too much moving around chasing work but now retired, I'm hoping for another
pup to climb up in my lap and choose me.

Cheers
Alan

User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

Re: BLUEY

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Sat Nov 02, 2019 12:52 pm

Happy days not far off then :lol: Nothing like a new pup to raise the energy levels. I am sure your Bluey will soon be pointing you in the right direction for the perfect little mate
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

Post Reply