Golden Harvest

Accepted for publication by Gold Dust magazine, June 2011. This poem is also in the book ‘Roman: A Life Shared’ which  I wrote in dedication to my Golden Retriever, now gone for some time.

It is a gentle true story which also contains another poem, should anyone be interested. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this x

Golden Harvest

You were the last to be chosen, the one nobody cared for;
But I saw the sun dissolve to amber gold within your eyes
So we took you home, all eager, but oh so unprepared for
The depth of love that you would bring to all our lives

Your innocence so overwhelming, you frequently amused us
Afraid of snow; afraid of shadows and reflections!
By and by, slowly, softly, you deemed us worthy of your trust;
Accepted us, despite our imperfections

Such a harvest we have reaped since we met that bright day;
Hours of river walks, of ‘hide-the-toy’ and chase!
The years laden with care sustain us now, for they
Are still in those gentle, knowing eyes, that much-loved face

You have greyed around your muzzle, but are so fair it’s hard to see
I have greyed too; my friend, we have grown old together
Your bones are stiff when you rise; you are slow to come to me
But come to me you do, and still with pleasure

This is our Golden harvest then, shared years, bright memories
Become content in our devotion, it is true
The seasons turn, as seasons will, but we can rest at ease
Though summer’s past now and autumn’s days are few

What we share remains as new, as fresh, as full and ripe
As any bounty weighing down the bough;
And when you and I are gone, harvested by time
Even then we will love on, as we love now.

S P. Oldham