Red Healer

Written while trying to study.

"Paws hit the pavement
On the roadside of 16,
From the back of a pickup truck...

"She hobbled down to the nearest house
Barking "Please", pleading for help
That's how she got to our front porch
Didn't recognize that voice
So we looked out the door to see what was going on...

"It was a medium-sized scared brown dog
With an injured leg, needing somewhere to stay
I set out the food bowls on the weathered boards
Told her it was gonna be okay,
She knew our house was the place to go,
No longer an unwanted stray...

"Her name was Copper,
We loved her, she loved us
Her adopted family
Something in those dog-brown eyes
Said it plain for all to see...

"Time went by, our lives changed
Not much stayed in place
Climb up these mountains, dodge the rocks
But we got through that relay race...

"Bring it back full circle several years,
From September to November
While exploring she got hit
She crawled back, broken leg, burned face
There was nothing we could do
But cry and say "Goodbye
And thanks,"
To our red heeler..."