![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.everyday-education.com\/images\/DSCN1504.JPG?resize=205%2C151\" "\\"Clue\\"")
Today we said good-bye to dear old friend. It’s never easy, and I’ll miss his ancient tottering steps following me through the house from dawn to dark. Today is the first time I’ve sat in my office chair, without needing to stay still in order to not roll over his old paws.<\/p>\n
Clue was a lively, bouncy Basingi mix when he came to us. He tirelessly brought balls and rocks to be thrown, so that he could fetch them and return with enormous delight, and he guarded us well. I loved to see him bounding down through the woods with his curly tail high over his back.<\/p>\n
Of late, he has been so very old. He could scarcely see or hear, and getting up and down was very difficult for him, yet he persevered in order to stay close beside me. He was my dog.<\/p>\n
Here is the story of a life like Clue’s, told in the voice of another beloved dog. I hope you enjoy it.<\/p>\n
His Apologies<\/strong> Master, this is Thy Servant. He is rising eight weeks old. Master, behold a Sinner! He hath committed a wrong. Master, again Thy Sinner! This that was once Thy Shoe, Master, extol Thy Servant, he has met a most Worthy Foe! Master, behold Thy Servant! Strange children came to play, ***************************************************<\/p>\n Master, pity Thy Servant! He is deaf and three parts blind. Lord, look down on Thy Servant! Bad things have come to pass. ****<\/p>\n He was released today, 28 April 2009. Requiescat in pace, Clue. You were my sweetie.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today we said good-bye to dear old friend. It’s never easy, and I’ll miss his ancient tottering steps following me through the house from dawn to dark. Today is the first time I’ve sat in my office chair, without needing...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[294],"tags":[318,292,832,868,303,916,928],"class_list":["post-1794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-inspiration","tag-his-apologies","tag-home-family","tag-old-dog","tag-poem","tag-poetry","tag-requiem","tag-rudyard-kipling"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nby Rudyard Kipling<\/p>\n
\nHe is mainly Head and Tummy. His legs are uncontrolled.
\nBut Thou hast forgiven his ugliness, and settled him on Thy knee…
\nArt Thou content with Thy Servant? He is *very* comfy with Thee.<\/p>\n
\nHe hath defiled Thy Premises through being kept in too long.
\nWherefore his nose has been rubbed in the dirt and his self- respect has been bruised.
\nMaster, pardon Thy Sinner, and see he is properly loosed.<\/p>\n
\nHe has found and taken and carried aside, as fitting matter to chew.
\nNow there is neither blacking nor tongue, and the Housemaid has us in tow,
\nMaster, remember Thy Servant is young, and tell her to let him go!<\/p>\n
\nThere has been fighting all over the Shop — and into the Shop also!
\nTill cruel umbrellas parted the strife (or I might have been choking him yet),
\nBut Thy Servant has had the Time of his Life — and now shall we call on the vet?<\/p>\n
\nAnd because they fought to caress him, Thy Servant wentedst away.
\nBut now that the Little Beasts have gone, he has returned to see
\n(Brushed — with his Sunday collar on) what they left over from tea.<\/p>\n
\nHe cannot catch Thy Commandments. He cannot read Thy Mind.
\nOh, leave him not to his loneliness; nor make him that kitten’s scorn.
\nHe hath had no other God than Thee since the year that he was born.<\/p>\n
\nThere is no heat in the midday sun, nor health in the wayside grass.
\nHis bones are full of an old disease — his torments run and increase.
\nLord, make haste with Thy Lightnings and grant him a quick release!<\/p>\n