Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OBITUARY, by THOMAS WILLIAM PARSONS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OBITUARY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Finding francesca full of tears, I said
Last Line: But -- kiss me, darling! -- dear old smiler's dead.
Subject(s): Animals; Dogs


FINDING Francesca full of tears, I said,
"Tell me thy trouble." "Oh, my dog is dead!
Murdered by poison! -- no one knows for what --
Was ever dog born capable of that?"
"Child," -- I began to say, but checked my thought, --
"A better dog can easily be bought."
For no -- what animal could him replace?
Those loving eyes! That fond, confiding face!
Those dear, dumb touches! Therefore I was dumb.
From word of mine could any comfort come?
A bitter sorrow 't is to lose a brute
Friend, dog or horse, for grief must then be mute, --
So many smile to see the rivers shed
Of tears for one poor, speechless creature dead.
When parents die there's many a word to say, --
Kind words, consoling -- one can always pray;
When children die 't is natural to tell
Their mother, "Certainly, with them 't is well!"

But for a dog, 't was all the life he had,
Since death is end of dogs, or good or bad.
This was his world; he was contented here;
Imagined nothing better, naught more dear,
Than his young mistress; sought no brighter sphere;
Having no sin, asked not to be forgiven;
Ne'er guessed at God nor ever dreamed of heaven.
Now he has passed away, so much of love
Goes from our life, without one hope above!
When a dog dies there's nothing to be said
But -- kiss me, darling! -- dear old Smiler's dead.





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