My Best Friend Willie Poem by Herbert Nehrlich

The papers said it has been found
you would be welcome, all of you,
with rationale and reasons sound
two parents and a happy crew
of five will get their visas soon
you may start packing all your things,
and when the sun reflects the moon
and Qantas polishes its wings
there will be smiles on every face
ADVENTURE spells the future here.

A foreign and exotic place
no time to even shed a tear,
to say good bye to the old farm
to friends and family, to folks
the promise of the Aussie charm
where gum trees would replace the oaks.

Six months to gather all our strength,
sell little things and settle bills,
then walk the width and too the length
of thirty acres, luscious hills,
it will be fine, you say and grin
though nagging is the inner voice,
the papers said that we are 'in',
we danced and hugged our girls and boys.

There were so many odds and ends
the knick-knacks of a hoarder's life,
we left some very happy friends,
(I have a foolish, gen'rous wife) .

Two dogs, one, Schultz, a dachshund, small
and faithful Willie, German Shep,
we could not take them, not at all,
so, faced with yet another step,
Brent Hoekema, he'd take the one
that would be guarding all his flock,
he also knew a certain Hun
a teacher just around the block.

So, Schultz fit in like God in Heaven,
and Willie sniffed and marked each spot,
then, on the Sunday, about seven
he'd wandered back, stood near his cot
and acted like he owned the place
which was, of course, the truth and more,
however, we, without much grace
took Willie back, stopped at the store
and bought a bottle, it was Jack,
to drown small doubts inside our minds.
We never ever did look back
and never opened our blinds.

The flight was great, the kids had fun
Australia, what did we expect?
Another country, full of sun
a home to love we did elect.

It's been some twenty years, then some,
we've settled long ago and own
two dogs, we drink our Bundy rum
and all our kids are fully grown.

But now and then, I reminisce
back to the day when Willie went,
such sadness, something was amiss
a child who'd lived with us and spent
ten years in total loyalty,
he knew me well, I would depart
his eyes searched mine, it had to be
I left him there, a broken heart.