In Honor of Bailey ..... 02.01.1992

From the very first day she was so full life,
Stubborn, strong, a smiling delight,
On guard, ever fearless,
Especially at night.

I thought I could train her,
To sit, heel and heed,
She'd prove me wrong,
Her bark said, "Wrong breed."

She won't fetch, won't retrieve,
Not from a "needy breed,"
She protects, she watches,
Eyes and ears always keen.

As far as for treats,
She only needs one,
Milk bones, large size
Her favorite, bar none.

So with the ground rules set,
A fifteen year venture we forged,
Always happy, very willful,
Self-fed, never gorged.

Every hour, day and night,
She honed her guarding skills,
Ask Whitter and Sophie,
Two cats, desperate pills.

Was it the sound of the clutch?
Perhaps, the first site of their van?
FedEx, US Mail, UPS,
She can't stand.

With a bark and a pant,
She'd sound the alarm.
Watching, tracking
Ensuring no harm.

Now speak of alarms,
Every morning no doubt
Came the sounds of her paws,
Click, click, I want out.

Yes, I’d try to ignore her,
And reach out a hand,
Hoping a scratch to the head
Would divert such a plan.

She’d have nothing of it,
Step back, give me none,
Then bark, and then lick,
Till I was up, and she won.

I would curse to myself,
And plan for a fence,
She could then come and go,
Seemed simple, made sense.

But the fence, never happened,
Instead it was this,
Click, click, open door,
Mornin' Chow, lick lick.

And now that she's gone,
Damn I wish I could hear.
Click, click, open door,
Instead I feel tears.

She was the best of the best,
Our time is done now,
Cinnamon Fur, Black Tongue,
Bailey, the Chow.

In Honor of Bailey ..... 02.01.1992 - 02.21.2007