Mongrel - A True Story

Something that happened in my childhood.

Mongrel 

 

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Oh, she was an ugly mutt, for sure 

That showed up on our porch one day.

She was mostly brown, with short, straight fur, 

Sprinkled with black and gray.

Her legs were short, and her tail was long, 

And she had a pointy snout.

Her bark was a sort of a funny song, 

But we never knew what about.

She won the hearts of eleven kids. 

Mom and dad couldn't resist.

We hugged her, and squealed with delight, we did, 

And our faces got doggie kissed.

She wiggled up to a brother of mine, 

Who scoffed to disguise his care.

He dubbed her "Mongrel", but she didn't mind, 

She went with him everywhere.

On that same day another stray 

Came up into our yard.

All us kids wanted the kitten to stay. 

To get parents to agree would be hard.

But Mongrel adopted her with a lick. 

Our parents were impressed to see it.

From that day, together those two would stick. 

They were soul mates... that HAD to be it.

This theory was proven to us later on, 

With a lesson we'd never forget.

The end of my story is a sad one, 

But I tell it without regret.

The kitten, named Cat, would curl up to sleep, 

Snuggled inside Mongrel's paws.

Together they'd play, together they'd eat

When asked why, we'd say "Just because."

Each day, without fail, getting off the school bus, 

we'd be greeted by Mongrel and Cat.

With a purr and a bark/song, composed just for us, 

From the curb, where they patiently sat.

But one day, Cat stepped down off the curb 

And was crushed beneath the bus wheel!

Bus driver and school kids... all were disturbed, 

but OH the grief Mongrel did feel!

She paced, and her song turned into a whine, 

And what happened next shocked us all.

Thinking about it still tingles my spine, 

Each time the event I recall.

She dashed to the street and got hit by a car! 

Her whine/song now howling her death.

A sad tale indeed, but the sweetest by far 

Sang, "I love you, Cat" with her last breath. 

Mongrel and Cat sleep in the same grave. 

Together they came, and both left.

With a stiff upper lip, we had to be brave, 

Though us kids all with grief were bereft.

At night, by the window, in sorrow I sat 

And decided, "In heaven, for sure,

Is an ugly brown dog and a scraggly cat, 

All snuggled in each others fur."

Author's Note

Have tissue ready. This is a tear jerker.

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Reviews

[MsMermaid]

It's so sad to lose beloved pets. A kitty I had for 17 years just recently died. I'm still grieving.

[Von Alis]

Beautiful, I cried, I just had to have my own mongrel put down, she was like my older sister. Thank you for the memories.

[MsMermaid]

Thank you for your kind and tearful review, Boldpen. I can't get through this without tears, no matter how many times I read it.

[Boldpen]

I can't say much... I'm in tears.
A very touching write. just went through my heart.
The poem was so beautifully defined and gracefully penned.
Good Job!