Saturday, 15 August 2015
Hobo
We called him Hobo
A stray dog from who knows where
But he stayed with us
He was a bitser
Quite a strange combination
With a heart of gold
He joined our kids gang
So went everywhere with them
Come rain hail or shine
Loved it down the creek
Chasing them over the hill
Following them home
He slept all alone
Despite hairs found in their beds
He was one of them
Friend from the country
Said there was Dingo in him
Hobo just shook his head
He yelped in his sleep
Telling us about his past
Lost in his dreamtime
Australian terms used:
Bitser - Australian mongrel dog
Dingo - Australia wild native dog
Dreamtime - Australian aboriginal mythology
Hobo - Australian tramp or wanderer
Image found www.feral-heart.com
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Thanks for the word definitions, and the poem is so special. It is funny when dogs "talk" in their sleep. My puppy does that a lot.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to have a free spirit in our pack - where else would we get our stories (of course;)
ReplyDeleteI love a stray that becomes a friend. We have one now, although it's a cat, not a dog.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the way you put together trios of snippets in their short-haired form to describe your Hobo (nice touch about hairs on bed and slept alone)
ReplyDeletemakes me wish i had pets as a kid
ReplyDeleteDogs are such faithful companions. Delightful read :D
ReplyDeleteHobo just shook his head... love that!
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet and heart warming :)
ReplyDeletei knew all the rest but i didnt know Bitser, learned something new and luv this haiku sequence a lovely story told Hobo i think is in all your readers heart by now
ReplyDeleteHave a good Sunday Robin
much love...
lovely.. stray dogs usually have big and warm hearts.
ReplyDeleteDid you really?
ReplyDeleteMy first dogs name was hobo. He was my best friend. Used to let me lay on his back as he walked around. He is the earliest friend I remember.
We went and saw "Max" last night about the rescue dogs/tracking dogs from the military. It is a wonderful story.
Enjoyed this...my dogs don't yelp in their sleep. I think that would be a bit eerie. If this poem is true, it really is a touching story.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely when a stray dog becomes a friend.. The last stanza with the connection to the aboriginal mythology is especially strong.
ReplyDeleteI like the stray dog became part of the group or family ~ Who really knows his past, but happy to read that he has a heart of gold ~
ReplyDeletevery touching...
ReplyDeleteWhen a stray dog becomes a family - precious moments will naturally come their way, Robin.
ReplyDeleteI just finished watching the movie "Hachiko Monogatari (Story of Hachi) - it's not a stray dog but the dog suddenly became a part of the family
It is good that he found a place he could call home...had to smile at the part he shook his head. So sad dreamtime stirs memories that make him yelp.
ReplyDeleteA relative of mine took in a rescued dog and I have never heard it bark. He has a gentle soul and I wonder why he doesn't bark not a sound. What has been done to him in the past? He is so loveable
I'm sure he had a chequered past and one worth dreaming about! A delightfully reflective piece.
ReplyDeleteVisit Keith's Ramblings!
Enjoyed your incorporation of Australian terms :-)
ReplyDeleteDogs are the best really--thank you for including the definitions---
ReplyDeleteOh, I love him and the story of his happy life, running gloriously with his pack of kids............especially poignant, him yelping in his dreamtime......maybe remembering the sad time before he found you all.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous dog and tribute to him...just a great being....and I love how you worked these perfect Australian words into the poem Robin. I knew all but one. :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes its the hobos of the world that have hearts of gold.
ReplyDeleteSweet.
ReplyDeleteZQ
We had a hobo stray as well when I was growing up...Inky...so glad God gave us these creatures.
ReplyDelete