Another dog poem from Long John Best

8 Days a Week

Day 7 bush poem 7:

Long John Best has that rare gift of being able to create a poem which is both sad and uplifting.

Here is one:

Long John Best:

Inspired by a piece called A Dog’s Purpose. Anonymous.

The Vet

Ron and Lisa’s dog was Bluey, part Blue Heeler, nearly ten,

Real good mate, more like a brother, to their six-year-old son, Ben.

I’m their vet, I’ve known the family, I dunno, for quite a while,

Watching boy and dog grow closer, one of Life’s joys, makes me smile.

Only school days find them parted, faithful friend waits by the gates.

But Life’s unfair, cruel. Cancer comes, claws deep and devastates,

And it’s now my task to tell them, all their prayers have been in vain,

Euthanasia, only option, to relieve poor Bluey’s pain.

Ben had asked if he could be there, which I thought strange for a kid,

But Ron and Lisa had agreed, and I’m so glad that they did.

For not before or ever since, have I witnessed such a scene,

At the passing of a loved one, sort of spiritual, I mean.

He seemed so calm when patting Blue, who looked up and licked Ben’s tears,

Respect and love and dignity, shown way, far beyond the years

Of their short lives spent together. Then we sat and wondered why,

Bad humans live a long, long time, and good dogs too soon must die.

Then Ben spoke, “I know the answer.” He is six, what would he say?

He gave us words of wisdom, that I dwell on to this day.

“Most people have to learn to live a good life, to love, be kind,

To be nice to one another, and I think that you will find,

That this really is the reason, but I’m six I could be wrong.

See dogs already know that stuff, so don’t have to stay as long.” 

YOU CAN ORDER TALL TALES from your physical bookstore (author Long John Best, publisher Bent Banana Books) or in paperback or eBook from online-retailers including

https://amzn.to/3gHuWko     (paperback and Kindle)

https://bit.ly/3iN3Wld (Barnes&Noble paperback)

https://www.fishpond.com.au/c/Books/q/Tall+Tales%3A+The+Verse+of+John+Albert+Best (paperback)

https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/tall-tales-15 (eBook)

Proceeds to animal welfare, RSPCA QLD

The Drover’s Dog is a mid-1980s parody by Redgum, a folk/bush band. Former trade union boss Bob Hawke deposed Opposition Leader Bill Haydn just before the 1983 election which Hawke won. A somewhat bitter Hayden said a drover’s dog could have won that election against Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.

8 Days a Week

Day 1  bush poem 1:

EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT EIGHT DAYS, I will present a bush poem from premier Australian bush poet Long John Best. The poems are all originals from Long John Best’s first print collection, Tall Tales.

        I have known Long John, now in his 80s, for about 20 years, perhaps not coincidentally, around the time he began to apply himself seriously to the craft of bush poetry, known as cowboy poetry in the United States. I say, not coincidentally, because we met when I was doing the entertainment round for the  Pine Rivers Press and the Northern Times newspapers 

        I have been privileged over the years to write stories about Long John or Johnny or Bestie, as various friends and family call him.

        Long John has helped me out too, performing at the launch of my novel, Iraqi Icicle. Through his group the North Pine Bush Poets, he raised money to buy my intellectually disables son, Kevin, an iPad to communicate with. 

        John seemed to be always raising money for someone. As you will read in one poem, one of his favourites was the Royal Flying Doctor Service which has a long history of providing medical services to rural Australia. Proceeds of Tall Tales support the Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA QLD) another of his favorites.

        Long John’s poetry ranges from the comic to the sentimental. He is not afraid to tackle controversial issues but he has the gift of uniting rather than dividing his audiences of various political and philosophical impulses.

        I am proud to call Long John Best my friend and I am happy Bent Banana Books was able to assist him in publishing Tall Tales. Let the tales begin. On the first tale of tallness, Long John wrote and performed Tasha, a Gift of a Dog.

Long John Best:

This is the story of an uninvited visitor to our home who stayed for fifteen years. She proved herself to be a wonderful warm and loyal companion. Honest and non-judgmental she was a great listener. We loved her then as we love her still.

Tasha, a Gift of a Dog

A puppy’s paw print, placed in concrete, nearly forty years ago,

 I was dirty when she did it, but no more, how could I know?

Now, every time I see it, takes me back, to reminisce

‘Bout them two young girls, who lived here, ‘bout Old Tasha, I still miss.