When you think of liberty think of me

When you honor the red, white, and blue

When you celebrate our nation's liberty

Think of the one who's been beside you

in spirit, in heart, in body ...

No being could be as loyal as me, for I am

your best friend, your partner ... your family

When our nation was young

I was the runner, carrying messages

in a war that would leave us undone

where brother fought beside brother.

And, alone in the face of terror

I moved through enemy lines,

as families fought one another,

my mission foremost in my mind

I was the one waiting for you even though

I sensed you would not be coming home

I languished on our wooden porch

growing thinner, until the war was over

and my days on earth were done.

I was in the trenches, fields, and meadows

accompanying you into foreign lands.

With you in the jungles and swamps

and at your heels on hot, dusty roads

or on blistering, desert sands.

I have been first in the line of fire

first to enter a field laden with mines

putting myself in your stead.

I went unflinching, leading,

to wherever, doing whatever you said.

With you I've jumped from the belly of a plane

dropping into places neither of us had ever seen.

All for the greater glory and good. All for humanity.

When a bullet took your life I laid by your side

my chin on your chest - despair in my eyes.

Content to have remained with you,

until a man in our unit lifted me up,

carrying me back to the war ... as he cried.

When we had parted, when you'd gone home

and when on foreign soil I was left all alone

through no fault of your own I was forsaken.

The government advised you that your friend

and helper; the soldier who'd been by your side,

would not be accompanying you home ...

To our home, our country, I could not be taken.

And so it was that we were abandoned

after you tearfully told us we could not follow

the men with whom we had served.

Confusion set in as we watched you depart;

being left behind, we had not deserved.

You left us dispirited, empty, and hollow

for we had given to you all of our all.

Like ghosts were we, missing our souls,

for you had taken with you ... our hearts.

I have been injured for you.

And I have died for you.

In your absence I have wasted away

from the loss of you.

I'm the scruffy, thin dog sitting quietly

next to the veteran in his wheelchair.

On the hill, the band plays a song

and the man softly cries, while

fireworks light up the night's air.

Gently I place my paw on his knee

lay my muzzle on his withered leg.

He looks at the small flag he is clutching

then he turns his attention to me.

His eyes are filled with thoughts and tears

but his smile is as warm as the sun.

"Thank you for reminding me," says he,

"what's been sacrificed for the freedom we've won."

In the now, we cannot know

who will be needing who.

But what you may not know is

that when you'll be needing me

I'll be needing and looking for you.

We've been a team, you and me

through the many years

that have shaped this land,

and God has blessed us mightily.

So, every now and then, thank me -

with a look, kind words, and the

touch of a gentle hand ...

When you think of liberty

and count the reasons you are free ...

Don't forget to think of me!

(© Kathy Pippig Harris, 2004;

Author’s note:

 “In memory of all the War Dogs, Military Working Dogs, and dogs in service of their country.”)

*****

I would like to thank Kathy Pippig Harris for her kind permission to publish her poems and writings on my blog.