The Death Of Turner Poem by Francis Duggan

Turned the dark brindled stag-hound of years only two
To hunt and kill wildlife he was bred to do
And what stag-hounds are good at Turner was too
But unfortunately he chased and caught and killed a protected species a kangaroo

A neighbor of Graeme and Genevieve's who witnessed what happened to the authorities did complain
And the result of this to poor Turner was not to his gain
Turner was deemed as a dangerous dog to be muzzled and confined in his backyard
And Graeme who loved his animal to him could not be cruel and hard

After consultation with Genevieve he decided that Turner should be put down
By one of the veterinarians of the town
Though again never to travel with him in his work van
As Graeme said of Turner he died a free man

Bred to chase and kill the desire to hunt in Turner was strong
And in killing a roo he could not see any wrong
But he did love people he was everyone's friend
And without realizing it his love of the hunt brought his life to a premature end

Turner's life was brought to an end before he reached his prime
To do what he was bred to do was his only crime
For Graeme and Genevieve a heart wrenching day
That life has it's sorrows only true to say

Though at least in his death Turner did not feel prolonged pain
He will never ride on the front seat of the work van with Graeme again
In his grave in the backyard his last remains lay
A similar fate does await all one day.