Benjy

 

It’s a cold night in the dogs home

Snow is on the ground

Christmas time is here again

so lonely for a hound

 

Kids want dogs for presents

but the novelty doesn’t last

so once here in this kennel

life can fade out fast

 

Benjy sits alone and thinks

of the people that pass by

looking for a family pet

and he just wonders why

 

He’s the one that no one wants

that  barks and wags his tail a lot

tries to lick them through the cage

to show them what he’s got

 

To offer in affection

and always be on hand

to help protect and keep them safe

from the bad people in the land

 

Benjy’s a German Shepherd dog

he knows he’s rather large and ferocious

and  needs a special owner

because he can be quite precocious

 

Another dawn, another day

he’s thinking to himself

just like another children’s toy

left upon the shelf

 

A door creaks open down the end

of the kennel row he’s in

a few more people to have a look

at what state the dogs are in

 

The open door lets in some snow

it just comes in to gloat

not much to keep him warm at all

only his fur coat

 

The family pass him by so fast

they didn’t look at all

or so he thought, this time he was wrong

perhaps God heard his call

 

A little girl and boy came back

said mummy this one’s nice

this comment perked him up no end

he thought I cost no price

 

But mummy said he’s rather large

we know they said, but think of it

he will protect us while daddy is away

and this made her think a bit

 

Can we see him better

perhaps  we can take him for a walk

but Benjy had been there before

he knew it was only talk

 

On his best behaviour

he woofed to say hello

long time since he had arms around him

since he played out in the snow

 

Been in and out of families

for many, many years

no one ever realizes

that even a dogs can still shed tears

 

Now six or seven years of age

no one really knows

the pain and heartache of being neglected

sometimes never shows

 

The children were excited

they kept him on his toes

playing running, jumping about

rolling in the snow

 

Back at the kennel the mother said

we will take him for a week

to see how he behaves himself

then looked back to take a peek

 

 To late to see the children in the snow

their faces a joy to see

come on Benjy said the mum

your coming home with me

 

Benjy sat and pondered

there was a God for dogs after all

the months he had sat and waited

for some kind family to call

 

Jenny the kennel maid gave him a pat

said well old friend its time to go

so off they  went so happily

leaving footprints  in the snow

 

But this time it was different

because showing by their side

were some quite large paw marks

from the dog that sometimes cried

Zippo

 

Franco the toymaker was busy at work

it’s Christmas so no time to shirk

making things for the girls and boys

in his shop to fill with toys

 

Dolls, Trains all sorts of things

he knows all the joy it brings

at this time of year, the special season

this religious time, we all know the reason

 

Hard at work throughout the day

many people come his way

into his shop and they will buy

that special present

for their children to enjoy

 

Late that night as he was closing

his thoughts were many

and he was supposing

what was next that he should make

there was so much for goodness sake

 

He looked around, just not enough

to go round, life was so tough

he felt a pain in his chest

made him grab his bright red vest

 

To the floor he fell so fast

he thought the feeling wouldn’t last

now passed out caused by his fall

fortunately Mrs Grimble

passing had seen it all

 

The Doctor came,  your confined to bed

but my toys Franc said

the children, they will understand

so just you rest that’s what I demand

 

That night while Franco was fast asleep

from out of one eye a toy did peep

Zippo the Clown was wide awake

this couldn’t happen for goodness sake

 

Hey wake up he shouted loud

disturbing all the sleeping crowd

other toys began to stir

suddenly lathes began to whir                       

 

 Standing over Franco’s bed

an Angel raised her pretty head

I’m here to help someone so good

so the toys will be made

just like they should

 

My little helpers will save the day

you deserve all the help

that comes your way

always there for the hard up and the poor

now its time to repay that heart of yours

 

All night long toys slaved away

making friends to save the day

all the shelves were full plenty for all

now we’ve answered the Angels call

 

So Zippo sat back quite contented

looked at the toys his friends had invented

Christmas would be just as before

with folks coming through the door

 

To see the children’s faces as they perused

all the toys, looking excited and bemused

was all the Angel and her friends required

and to save Franc from getting so tired

 

In the morning when he awoke

pain now gone, got up, gave the fire a poke

in the workshop he was surrounded

stood aghast, just plain dumfounded

 

All these toys don’t remember these

but the children I now can please

through the window he saw the snow

in the Christmas lights it was quite a show

 

Turned the door sign to say open

another day , like others often

never knew what took place that night

his Angel coming and bringing the light

 

That lit up his life for many years

so to bring children laughter

wiping away their tears

Zippo and his helpers just sat and pondered

about Christmas day, they really wondered

 

Who would buy them, take them home

to be played with

or would they remain alone

but would always remember

when Franco nearly died

the night they sat round and cried

 

Thanks to the Angel who brought them life

to aid poor Franco and save his life

all that remained so long ago

some unexplained footsteps in the snow