Part of the Family

[couchgrouch]

Part of the FamilyMy father thought he'd never need someone elsebut it's an empty man who's full of himselfso he brought home a flop-eared pup to helpwith his small farm on the plainsback then the only kin he had was some old records of his dad'sthe western hills...a straw plowing hatand photos of his mom in mahogany framesbut he moved closer to not being a bachelorwhen he fed that pup greasy pork from his own spatulacos he was part of the familywhere he'd always belongpart of the familyand family goes on and onwell, that farming hound was pretty smartwhen he liked someone he'd wag his tail hardyeah, he wagged for preachers but he'd just barkwhen revenue men and vets came down their roadnow it was a still and starless April nighttwo shadows in the halo of the porchlightwhen his master asked that gold haired girl insidethat hound's tail welcomed her into their homeafter they wed she shared my father's workloadhauling hay and driving tractor down that old dirt roadshe was part of the familywhere she'd always belongpart of the familyand family goes on and onnow mama says his tail was goin' like crazythe winter day they brought home their babywhile growing up that hound was a brother to menow he keeps watch on the porch though he can hardly seecos dad passed on...he's resting in those western hillsbut that dog keeps waiting cos he thinks dad is stillpart of the familywhere he'll always belongpart of the familyand family goes on and on(c)2005 Robert George