[NAGDU] poem

[madisonmartin463 at gmail.com]

Hi all,
I saw this on another list that I'm on, I know this isn't about a guide dog but
I thought that those of you who have Labs would be able to relate to this!!
Madison

 A Little Black Lab

 On what is now called Labrador

 With it's wind swept crags and jutting jaw

 When the earth was young and the sea wild,

 There was created a canine child.

 God took a heart that was big and bold,

 and a tireless will that would not fold,

 A seal-like coat painted in ink,

 Two soft brown eyes, and a nose that could think.

 Some salted blood and a otter's tail

 and four webbed feet to fight a gale;

 A sailor's friend be became

 from the shores of Bristol to the Spanish Main.

 He asked no more than a pat on the head,

 or a kindly word and a deck for a bed-

 He would always wait for a hazardous chore.

 and fetch a line and swim it ashore.

 Or break through ice for the hunter's delight

 that they might have a wild ducks slice;

 or walk the strets from end to end

 just to comfort a "white canned" friend.

 God never made a perfect man,

 nor a perfect woman too,

 but a Labrador Retriever might

 his finished mold come true.

 When the last geese on the horizon flee

 and the distant drummer summons me-

 when the sun sets slowly in the west

 and the dust has settled on my chest-

 When the judgement door is opened wide

 and I cannot run and cannot hide;

 When I have to pay my life's last tab,

 I pray my judge be a little black lab.

 author unknown