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Shay Speaks Her Mind :-)

Chains Were Her Prison

Chains Were Her Prison

I was just a girl, and I had always been told
not to go near the Collie who was tied to a pole
she lived two houses down, this "forgotten" dog
out in the heat, the rain, and the cold, cold fog

I passed her each day when I'd walk to school
and she was always alone, so I broke that rule
like the Lassie on TV, she was beautiful to me
but as I drew nearer, her fear was easy to see

So I held out my hand, allowing her to catch my scent
there was pain in her face, hurting me was not her intent
but when I reached her, uncertainty flashed in her eyes and she bit
As pain blossomed in my palm, my knees buckled and I had to sit

From up against the garage wall I shakily slid to the dirt
cradling my hand I shook my head, crying freely at the hurt
not from her bite to my palm, but the pain that etched her face
when I had looked up at her and she slowly met my gaze

Her expression said, I'm sorry! Perhaps in a another time and place
We might have been friends, or even family... and seen love in each others face
I can only dream of the prospects a different life may have yielded?
Like running side-by-side, on a summer's eve, in a lush green-carpeted field

But, none of those things were meant for her
She was a prisoner there, that was plain to see
A chain 'round her neck, and dust in her once pretty fur
So I turned and ran home, all the while wishing
that I could have set the "forgotten" girl free...

Copyright 2007 Kathy Pippig Harris