BLUEY
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- Posts: 96
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
- Location: North Queensland
BLUEY
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
(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
-
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
- Location: North Queensland
Re: BLUEY
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
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
- Shelley Hansen
- Posts: 2224
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2014 5:39 pm
- Location: Maryborough, Queensland
- Contact:
Re: BLUEY
Sounds like he was a real character Alan.
A good yarn!
Cheers
Shelley
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")
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")
- Maureen K Clifford
- Posts: 8073
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
- Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
- Contact:
Re: BLUEY
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.
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.
-
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:57 pm
- Location: North Queensland
Re: BLUEY
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
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
- Maureen K Clifford
- Posts: 8073
- Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
- Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
- Contact:
Re: BLUEY
Happy days not far off then 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.
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.