Toby

Toby

1991 by Bud Lemire

This is a poem about Toby, a great friend of mine

He's gentle, he's thoughtful, he's playful, he's kind

He came through my sister's action one day in December

It was the first of the month, a day I'll always remember

Toby arrived at a good time, with the death of my Dad

With a kiss from this canine, he'd make us feel glad

He's playful, witty, and sometimes acts like a clown

If he can't get your attention, he puts his head down

Watch your words closely, whenever you talk

He knows the word CHEWEE, and he knows the word WALK

If you say these words, he'll come running to you

He'll watch you until you give him his due

He's a part of the family, whom we love dear

When he chews his bone, he likes to be near

When unsure, he holds his paw up in a questionly way

With him by your side, everything will be okay

He loves it when you tug on a toy, or throw the ball

And he's there with a tail wag, as you come from the hall

To go outside, he lets out a whine

Or goes by the door, or some other sign

He's a mixture of breeds, a real lovable pup

And was caught drinking tomato juice from John's coffee cup

With his sad little face, we give in to his stare

Food from our plates, which we love to share

Without his presence, our lives would be dim

Our family is much happier, because we have him

This is a poem about my dog Toby, who passed away in August 1998.

He was a great little friend of mine, and I am so glad he came along.