A Special Charge

Whatever love you give to him, Returns in triple measure, Follow his lead and gain a life, Brim full of simple pleasures.

Enjoy each day as it comes, Allow your heart to guide, Be loyal and steadfast in love, As the dog there by your side.

Now will you give him all your love, Nor think the labour vain, Nor hate me when I come to call, To take him back again?

I fancy each of us would say, Dear Lord, thy will be done, For all the joys this dog shall bring, The risk of grief we’ll run.

We’ll shelter him with tenderness, We’ll love him while we may, And for the happiness we’ve known, Forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for him, Much sooner than we’ve planned, We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes, And try to understand.

If by our love we’ve managed, God’s wishes to achieve, In memory of him that we have loved, And to help us while we grieve;

When our faithful bundle departs, This earthly world of strife, We’ll get yet another pup, And love him all his life.