Ode to Ginger

It was the end of November,

A gray and rainy day,

With her fur all scruffy and curled.

This pup was adopted from AAWL,

And she forever changed my world.

They called her Tulip,

But she spoke to me

And said it was such a shame

That the folks at the shelter never knew

“Ginger” was her name.

Her undercoat is ginger-spice brown

And she’s as mischievous as can be.

She climbed the doggy gate I put up.

“Don’t fence me in, I have to be free!”

She would cock her head and stare at me.

She’d back up a few steps, as if to say,

“Hey dad, come on, let’s go outside

Or at least get a toy and let’s play.”

Her bark is deep and rather loud.

If you didn’t see her, you’d never know

That she’s really just a tiny pup;

One foot tall from head to toe.

She loves to romp, and run and play.

She’s like a little gnome.

We found each other, we both know now

She has a “forever home.”

On that last day in November

The fates stepped in

And foretold a future, yet to be.

Somehow they knew that I would rescue her

So she could rescue me!

Mark Goldman

2/9/2008