Run Fast Our Beautiful Nell Poem by John Carter Brown

How often do we hear the phrase, 'My, how the time does fly? '
and true it is, and passes in the glancing of an eye;
Along the way, and if we're fortunate, we meet a friend,
who bides with us, is loyal, and to whom we love to tend.

(The one that we were blessed with (a Lurcher breed by name)
was freely loaned from heaven, and from there to us she came.))

Her speed was such, as if her paws were lathered up with grease;
yet lithe enough to spin and turn upon a penny-piece.
A character as colourful as both her auburn eyes,
(sneaking on the empty couch to guzzle her pork-pies!) shhh...

A catwalk-model was our Nell, according to our Holly;
much fairer still than any Poodle-pet or common Collie;
And though no bath could ever entice her to dip her pretty paws,
yet she loved to leap into the lakes for sticks, so had her flaws:

For instance Nell, at catching ball was lightning fast, and good,
she'd bring it, but then run away... give back? - no way she would;
And out with Nell, we felt that she, to sheepdogs, was related,
she'd herd the family into line if we got separated.

'The Lakes', a favourite haunt was ever joy for our dear Nell,
clambering amongst the rocks and hills she loved so well;
She'd whirl her tail in circles, and nothing ever stopped her
from spinning it excitedly, just like a helicopter.

Once met then, never forgotten, this gentle lady Nell,
and many hearts were melted, as underneath her spell
a myriad of people fell hopelessly in love,
captivated by the one sent from the world above;

And mark these words I tell you: 'there's no such thing as dead.
The spirit that is absent has just gone on ahead.'
She now runs ever freely, and with our kind farewell;
And so with all our love we say... run fast our beautiful Nell.

(Written July 2015)