For Murgatroy... and maybe a few others.

[Timestepper]

*NOTE: I wrote this for my dad back in '97 and had the honor of reciting it for him and an older brother after Thanks Giving dinner that year. It was only the second time in my life I remember seeing tears in Pop's eyes.*

Hope y'all don't mind it too much...

...TS...

EDIT: My apologies for the formatting - I worked on this for 10 minutes trying to set it up for this forum and it still goofed on me.

My First True Love

Well I reckon I knowed her before I could even talk –

She always was a friend.

Mom said she was a bitch, but ‘course

I wasn’t worldly enough to know what a bitch was back then.

I just knew I loved her with all my heart.

There was never any doubt –

She’d look at me with those big brown eyes

And I’d just let my feelings out.

Dad and my big brothers loved her too,

I guess for different reasons than I did -

I ‘member how they’d take her out in the woods behind the house,

When I was just a kid.

‘They’d tell me, “You’re not big enough.”

And I’d have to stay behind again.

Then, in a couple hours, she’d come back exhausted.

And they’d come back and grin!

Dad said, “Mom, she’s turnin’ our boys in to men,

She really laid ‘em down!

Even taught me some things I didn’t know...”

And I’d just stand and frown!

I didn’t know what he was talkin’ about,

Or why my brothers now was men.

I was feelin’ all left out, then she came and kissed me,

And made me feel like I was part of things again.

This went on for several years, till finally Dad said,

“You’re big enough to tag along” one day.

And I got to watch the greatest hunting dog that ever lived.

Her name was Ellie Mae.

She wasn’t much to look at, small and slick haired,

And black and brown with a little white.

‘Course she had them big brown eyes,

But tryin’ as I might,

I can’t think of any one particular breed she was,

Or from where her bloodline came.

But she had the poise and grace of a high bred pointer

And a nose that’d make a blood hound flush with shame.

She was just that good, though as far huntin’ goes,

I don’t reckon she ever had any formal kind of trainin’.

But she loved my dad and she loved to hunt,

And didn’t care if it was snowin’ or a rainin’.

‘Course growin’ up in Kansas, you never knew

If it’d be rainin’ or blowin’ snow –

I ‘member times we’d go out huntin’ the snow was high,

And the temperature sure was low!

But Ellie just loved it! She loved huntin’ rabbit and squirrel and pheasant and quail

And, well I guess about every other kind of critter.

Then we’d come home and dress ‘em out,

And she’d go and nurse her latest litter.

That was something else she was good at –

Seems like she could always make the boy dogs smile.

‘Course most of her pups we gave away,

But there were some we kept a while.

But they were never quite as good as Elli Mae.

She just always was the best;

I ‘member one time when Dad shot a squirrel,

Just before it reached its nest.

We was huntin’ cross the river from the end of First Street,

East of my hometown.

The river was up and runnin’ hard,

And the snow was comin’ down.

And, well, the squirrel landed in the water –

Started floatin’ around the bend.

‘Course it was too swift and deep and cold to wade,

But Ellie dove right in!

We just stood there in amazement! She’d never done anything like this before,

But watchin’ her sure was neat!

She retrieved it, climbed the bank and looked up at Dad

Then laid the squirrel at his feet.

Then she wagged her tail and gave a yip

Just as clear as I’m tellin’ this to you –

She said, “Come on Old Man, pick the damn thing up and reload!

We got more huntin’ left to do!

Well, I reckon there’s a thousand other stories...

But there’s no need to tell the rest.

She loved my dad and she loved to hunt.

And she just always gave her best.

She’s been gone... I guess 38 years in 2011

And I’ll still never forget that day –

I was in sixth grade and I went out one morning to feed her

And found that Ellie had passed away!

And I went runnin’, bawlin’ back inside

To tell my dad his huntin’ dog was dead!

And he went out and called her name – then stroked her fur

As he sadly shook his head.

And, well I ain’t sure, but I thought I seen a tear

In the corner of his eye...

‘Course I was standin’ there snifflin’... And he hugged me,

Told me, “Go ahead and cry.”

She was the first creature I ever remember knowin’ how to love

And the best present a kid ever got on his very first birthday...

She was the greatest huntin’ dog I’ve ever known,

And her name was Ellie Mae...

© 1997 W.D. McCrary

Edited November 23, 2011 by Timestepper

[hipower]

Thank you. That's all I can say.

[Timestepper]

Thank you. That's all I can say.

You are welcome, friend. It was an honor...

[robin48]

I was blessed by that.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

[Oh Shoot]

Very touching poem and sentiment. I can certainly relate.

I'm only child, my granddad brought me Skip for my 3rd birthday, barely weaned mixed shorthaired terrier mutt -- granddad and I buried him not long after my 16th birthday.

You can imagine, growing up with no sibs, only Skip. That was life's first big heartbreak.

- OS

Edited November 23, 2011 by OhShoot

[Murgatroy]

Thank you.

There are a lot of folks that love their animals, and well, that is the truest test of a human in my opinion. Not how he treats other humans, because there can always be a selfish reason behind that, but how he treats animals, because in the end, that is as selfless as a man can be.

[hipower]

Very Well Said, my friend. You covered it nicely.

[Guest db99wj]

Good story. :turnsaroundtowipetear:.

[Timestepper]

I was blessed by that.

And I was blessed by the friendship of Ellie Mae and understanding of a wonderful man who just happened to be my dad.

Very touching poem and sentiment. I can certainly relate.

I'm only child, my granddad brought me Skip for my 3rd birthday, barely weaned mixed shorthaired terrier mutt -- granddad and I buried him not long after my 16th birthday.

You can imagine, growing up with no sibs, only Skip. That was life's first big heartbreak.

- OS

But, oh, the rich, rich memories you were given. You were a lucky kid even if you didn't think so at the time.

Thank you.

There are a lot of folks that love their animals, and well, that is the truest test of a human in my opinion. Not how he treats other humans, because there can always be a selfish reason behind that, but how he treats animals, because in the end, that is as selfless as a man can be.

No thanks necessary, but you are indeed welcome. Pop told me once, "If you ain't nice when no one's looking, you ain't nice. Period." All in all, the critter friends I've had have taught me more about kindness and unconditional love than I ever would have learned otherwise.

Very Well Said, my friend. You covered it nicely.

He did indeed!

Good story. :turnsaroundtowipetear:.

Thank you. I reckon I've recited this particular poem more than a thousand times in the past fourteen years... for family, friends and audiences. On stage, at the dining room table, over the C.B. radio, around campfires and on creek banks... and I never fail to tear up myself. I am infinitely thankful that I was lucky enough to eventually put into words what I was even luckier to live.

Thanks to all who replied for the kind words. Thank you...

...TS...

[dlm37015]

thanks