The Tender Touch

 

THE TENDER TOUCH

That one so large and one so small

Can walk in harmony at all,

Is miracle enough for me!

That one built sturdy as a tree,

So huge, so wide, so vast and high,

And reaching almost to the sky,

With ears that flap and feet that pound

Making an almost thunderous sound,

Can be so gentle! Contemplate

The baby with its awkward gait!

See how it plods with infant strides

Keeping close to mother's sides!

Her vast feet could eliminate it!

Yet see how softly she'll placate it!

The coiling trunk gives a gentle nudge,

Indicating 'Stay!' or 'Budge!'

Her trumpet sounds a 'Yea' or 'Nay'

And her offspring knows to go or stay!

'The fruits will ripen soon and so

This is the way we have to go.'

He heeds the looming beast above

Revelling in his Mother's love.

What makes me stop and marvel so?

He was only born an hour ago!

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BANJO BABY!

When grandson Blake was only three

Banjo came to stay.

He was tiny enough to fit in a hand,

But big enough to play.

His little bones were like a bird's;

He shivered in the breeze;

He looked up at us with pleading eyes

Saying 'Knit me a jacket..... please.'

We found him a teddy-bear's cast-off coat

And he found a patch of sun,

And even asleep his little tail wagged

And we knew a heart had been won.

It wasn't a jacket all lined with fur,

Or decked-out with strips of leather,

But it perfectly fitted the little pup,

And kept out the chilly weather.

Now Blake is twelve and growing tall,

And Banjo will soon be ten,

But still he's as cute as a baby pup,

Just as he was then.

He's gone a sort of rusty grey

But he's still the best dog ever.

He's bright, affectionate, always there

And his tricks with a ball are clever.

You can keep your poodle in pretty pink,

With ribbons round her throat,

We'll take Banjo, for all of us know,

He's sweet in his knitted coat

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