Oh what a tail wagging, heart thumping, joy a new friend is!

I remember a warm time; when there was another friend.

She smelt of security, love, milk and other warm puppies.

I think she must have been my first friend, “a Long Tongue.”

At that time, long ago, I could not see; only sense and smell –

the love and devotion of this friend who looked after me.

Something tells me that being a Long Tongue is special.

Perhaps one day I will be one. How wonderful that would be!

 

In the mean time, I have a special friend, who waits for me,

plays with me, romps with me, whiffles and sniffles with me,

shares her food with me, then lays down to rest with me.

She is not my Long Tongue but I know that she loves me.

When I go in the car I always hope that we are going there.

We don’t always go there. Sometimes we just go shopping.

Other times we just go to see other “Long Legs.” They are kind.

They play and cuddle me but they are not Long Tongues.

 

When we do go to the place where my special friend is,

I know, a long way off, by the scents in my nose, the noises,

the bumps in the road, the trees and flowers that grow

and bloom near that special place where my friend lives.

So I sing a song of hope and longing to be with my friend.

What a joy to turn that last corner to where she lives.

My heart thumps. Tears of joy flow from my eyes.

Soon I will see her standing, tail wagging, waiting for me.

 

My Long Legs open the car doors, they laugh with us.

They make strange noises; they pet my friend.

They are kind people. I think they almost understand-

how important, how wonderful my special friend is.

Then my whole, bright world is shining like the sun.

My tail wags without me wagging it, my body too.

Somehow I feel as if my own Long Tongue were there.

Then I know the feeling of almost bursting with love!

 

 
David Garlick, Sidney, August, 2000