My Blessed Sam

by Jimmie Davis
(Crowley, Tx)

My Blessed Sam

The first time I saw him, that scene engraved in my mind.
He was old, and tired, but gave an air of being kind.
His head out the window and his tongue in the breeze
On his way for adoption, I still can’t believe.

His ear was bent, and his paw not so well
I think had had been living in some kind of hell.
His eye had a problem that needed surgery to repair
But with all of this, still held his head high, and proud, in the air.

For a large breed Doberman, he looked rather ruff.
He had had heart worms and all that stuff.
Had been uncared for, and just dropped off at the pound
After seeing him, I wanted to turn that around.

He seemed a little dazed, but tried to look happy
I knew I wanted him and his faults were okay with me.
I had to fight to get this unwanted “old man”
His name was “Samson”, I called him “Sam”

Our journey began on an October day,
I walked him around the yard, he had a place to stay

I thought how to teach him what I wanted him to do
But it was him who taught me without further ado.
He was curious, and gentle, and loving and kind.
With this amazing creature what was there to mind?

He played and wandered in our yard which he roamed
Seeming so grateful to finally have a home.

His mischievousness was apparent when playing with other dogs
Agitating the others, but always in good fun.
His gentleness shown through for a dog his size
His energy was boundless, I love this old dog, I realized

He demanded my attention when I sat in my chair
Giving me all his love, So I didn’t care
In fact he was my favorite,
and I missed him anytime he wasn’t there.

He would constantly lift his head and turn it around
Looking like a seal bobbing up and down
Making sure I was still there,
for he missed me too, when I wasn’t around .

So friendly and outgoing to all creatures large and small,
When friends would come over, Sam gave it his all
He would sit by them to show them how gentle he was
Bobbing his head and nudging their hands
They now know why I loved him, they now understand.

It was a special soul that lived inside this dog
Trying to understand it puts my mind in a bog.
What was this kind, and gentle creature, so special to my life
I was grateful to be a part of his and appreciated his zest for life

The years went by, our friendship so strong
I couldn’t imagine a day, when he would be gone.
Then one Sunday, an odd look came into his eye
He looked at me…and staggered… and his breathing was shy.

We rushed him to the doctor, hoping for the best
But the results that day, surely put my heart to the test
For Sam was sick and I could only think of the time we had left.
Tears filled my eyes as I thought of my friend
But no matter what I did, I couldn’t change the eventual end

I held and caressed him, and told him I loved him,
even more now, than so often before,
Gave him his medication for comfort as he lay on the floor

But time was our enemy, and how quickly it passed
Why didn’t we find each other sooner ... I asked

My friend is gone now, It’s been over a year
And tears still fill my eyes as I so often think of him
His presence I still feel, and his bark I still hear.
I think of a time we’ll be together again… in some future year.

My Blessed Sam

J.D.