© Dotty Hendrix
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Philip Ardagh
Best known as an author of children’s prose (and for his beard), Philip Ardagh also writes poetry for all ages; his poems appearing in a variety of anthologies. These include Green Glass Beads, collected by Jacqueline Wilson, Read Me and Laugh, collected by Gaby Morgan, A Million Brilliant Poems (part one), collected by Roger Stevens, and Puppy Poems collected by Gaby Morgan. This is Philip on Tumblr and on Twitter. I know Philip as a very, very funny man – this poem doesn’t reflect that, but it is one of my favourites of his:
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Goodbye, Good Boy
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Old, old friend.
Stiff-boned now,
Like Grandma’s fingers.
My first true love.
I bury my face in your fur,
Black, now streaked with white.
You smell of sunshine
And golden days of play.
You manage to lift your head
And look at me with trusting
Amber eyes.
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I recall your puppy days
And all we’ve shared together since.
The secrets that I’ve told you,
Best dog. Best friend.
A part of me forever.
Kind hands lift you from me.
It is time.
I will be with you until the end, boy.
I’m right here at your side.
And afterwards? You will live
In my thoughts,
the happiest wet-nosed memory of all.
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But first the pain.
Who knew unhappiness
Could feel like this?
You thump your tail on the
stainless-steel table.
My heart-bursting wish,
Trough burning eyes,
To turn back time.
Goodbye, Good boy.
Good dog.
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© Philip Ardagh
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