I didn't deserve you: 1996 - 2009

Joe Friday

Well-known member
Supporter
You were such a good dog..a loyal friend..a dedicated hunter. I didn't deserve to have you as mine. You were better than that, better than me.

View attachment TRAVELLER.jpg

I wrote this for you a few years ago. Do you remember?

by the door i placed my shells, my coat and the
shotgun in the case
you stand by the truck with the decoys
I see the look on your face
before the dawn we gather and load
hopeful for weather, we hit the road
we had plenty of good hunts, and I'll never forget
the look in your eye
watching
from our blind in the marsh
the birds in the sky
the report of the shotgun is your action call
do you ever wonder why
some birds don't fall?

You bound from the blind into the cold cold bay and
the splash you did make
swimming, never tired, for the
retrieve of the drake

the hunt for the cripple with your head and not to
the grasses bent
and the sway of your tail when you
gather the scent

you break skim ice and your coat
covered with frost

a whoop and a holler for a bird I once thought
lost

I think fondly of the greenwing teal, the pintail, the banded black duck,
the bluebill, Swan and Dove

and your face when the fly, wings lock, overhead, now out front!
It is what you love.

At day's end, by the woodstove, asleep
on a blanket with fur rising steam

whiskey in hand I wonder
what you dream

Birds in the field and Ducks
on the wing

'ol Traveller, my friend,
Life is a wonderful thing
 
joe good looking dog they have told me its ok to stand still & remember but always keep lookin forward i have a 3yr lil yellow & already think of this day unfortionatlly



god bless the howell boyz 3
 
Sorry Joe.Great tribute.Cherish the memories.That's all we have of our cherished friends.
 
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