The Puppy Sad
On Christmas morn grand-kiddy had
A puppy stuffed who looked so sad;
Supposed to bark and dance with glee,
But wouldn't move – so came to me."Oh grandpa dear, my puppy's broke;
I've coaxed and begged, told him a joke,
But he's so sad, he looks quite dead –
I pull the leash – he won't be led."I took the puppy, gentle like,
And prayed for it – "’Twill be all right,"
I firmly said, and donned my robes,
"It takes a pro – I've dealt with those –"For forty years I've pumped them up;
God said, ‘Move On’, and I said, ‘Yup’;
A year or two now I've been ’round
To puppy types just like your hound."We sang some songs, and shook, and danced,
But puppy dog with fancy pants
Just would not howl or chase its tail –
The little child began to wail.But then I got my chance to act,
Encourage it, berate with fact –
I told it of my forty years;
Appealed to it with pleas and tears.But still the puppy would not smile;
I flipped a coin, backed off a while –
"We'll try again, here, in the eve,
You bring it back – before I leave –"When you come back, please don't be late,
It's just not good to hesitate";
To puppy dog I spoke as well,
"I like you, puppy dog, you're swell."That eve when we all gathered 'round,
He brought to me defective hound;
Again we sang and danced a bit,
Once more I spoke direct to it –"Look, puppy dog, the power's there,
The problem's yours – you will not dare
To bark and dance – have faith, step out –
Potential's yours to prance about."Exhorted I with gusto, heat;
My words streamed out, the dog I beat –
Not with a stick, but with my voice –
"Come on, you mutt, it's time for choice!"But still the puppy would not budge;
Quite sad it sat, I held no grudge;
I jumped up on the Chesterfield,
I moved around – it did not yield.I threw a penny ’mongst the folk,
Then ran across the chairs – no joke –
I pleaded, prayed, "O God, begin
To send your power now within –"This puppy’s sad, cast devil out;
Give me your words to act and shout –
This puppy won’t to pressure yield –
Came I in error to this field?"God silent was, (I hate the way
He says “Press on, a second day;
You'll see, (you know I cannot show;
I brought you here – so you can know)”.So I dismissed grandkid with care;
Made sure that he was quite aware
Sometimes it takes more times than twice,
"Come back, we'll melt this puppy's ice".I did not see his sister there,
So quiet she in grandma's chair;
She did not speak – was meek and mild –
"What could she know? she's just a child".She read her book, at times glanced up;
"Quite simple how to fix that pup,
I wonder if he'll ask of me?
He likely won't – I'll wait to see."If he just saw – what good there'd be,
He travels now from sea to sea;
The task’s complex in his new round –
There's cats, and bears, not just that hound."Each critter needs a different fix,
But he can't see what problem is;
He's locked into his blinkered ways,
Which worked before, in former days."I prayed and fasted, read ‘The Book’,
I lay prostrate (but did not look
With eyes refreshed to see what was
For this sad dog, his problem's cause).That night in prayer God said to me,
"The problem is, you cannot see;
My kids, the Jews, they got the point –
No word for ‘show’, just ‘see’, (don't point)."I built the world to work that way.
(‘Have I not shown you man?’, you say;
But that's not right, I said not that –
I set things up, then I sat back)."For you must look if you're to see;
Your hunger show if you're to be
Aware of what new task will be
As you go round from sea to sea."If I'm too clear about my ways,
A wimp you'll be through all your days;
You know the hungry search for food
(‘Those socialists are just no good’)."‘Thus says the Lord’, it has its place;
Most times I speak in other ways;
Quit whining man, and look around,
Connect with folks, till answer's found.Find ways to freshen up your eyes;
Don't think that looking to the skies
Is all there is, like those first days
When Angel said, ‘Hey guys – next phase’."I do not hide such things from you
I hide them there for you – so choose
To enter hunt for Easter eggs;
Get off your perch, and use your legs."Then He shut up and let me squirm;
I thought, "If I act like a worm
And grovel, He will answer make";
But then I saw I'd be a fake –For God believes that I can see;
He gave these imaged eyes to me;
He put me in community;
Said, "Bid the children come to me".As boy and puppy'd come that night,
I prayed, "O God, restore my sight,
That I might see what is the cause –
Why puppy dog won't use its paws.""Now that’s a better question, son;
The answer's there, so have some fun;
When you find out, you'll celebrate
My gift of eyes, and choice to wait."navigation