The spirit of a …

I was standing on a hillside

In a field of blowing wheat

And the spirit of a German Shepherd Dog

Was lying at my feet.

 

He looked at me with kind dark eyes

An ancient wisdom shining through

And in the essence of his being

I saw love there too.

 

His mind did lock upon my heart

As I stood there on that day

And he told me of this story

About a place so far away.

 

I stood upon that hillside

In a field of blowing wheat

And in a twinkling of a second

His spirit left my feet.
 

His tale did put my heart at ease

My fears did fade away

About what lay ahead of me

On another distant day.

 

I live among God’s creatures now

In the heavens of your mind

So do not grieve for me, my friend

As I am with my kind.

 

My collar is a rainbow’s hue

My leash a shooting star

My boundaries are the Milky Way

Where I sparkle from afar.
 

There are no pens or kennels here

For I am not confined. 

But free to roam God’s heavens

Among my Shepherd kind.
 

I nap the day on a snowy cloud

Gentle breezes rocking me

And dream the dreams of earthlings

And how it used to be.

 

The trees are full of liver treats

And tennis balls abound

And Milkbones line the walkways

Just waiting to be found.

*****

 

Another, slightly different version: 

 

I was standing on a hillside

In a field of blowing wheat,

And the spirit of a Greyhound

Was lying at my feet.

 

He looked at me with kind dark eyes,

Ancient wisdom shining through.

In the essence of his being,

I saw such love there too.

 

His mind locked upon my heart

As I stood there on that day,

And he told me of this story

About a place so far away.

 

As I stood upon that hillside

In a field of blowing wheat,

In a twinkling of a second

His spirit left my feet.

 

His tale put my heart at ease;

All my fears did fade away

About what lay ahead of me

On another distant day.

 

"I live among God's creatures now

In the heavens of your mind,

So do not grieve for me my friend,

As I am with my kind.

 

My collar is a rainbow's hue;

My leash is a shooting star.

My boundaries are the Milky Way

Where I sparkle from afar.

 

There are no pens or kennels here

For I am not confined,

But I'm free to roam God's heavens

Among the Greyhound kind.

 

I nap the day on a snowy cloud

Gentle breezes rocking me,

And dream the dreams of earthlings,

And how it used to be.

 

The trees are full of liver treats,

And tennis balls abound,

And milk bones line the walkways

Just waiting to be found.

 

There is even a ring set up,

The grass all lush and green;

And everyone who gaits around

Becomes the Best of Breed.

 

For we're all winners in this place;

We have no faults, you see.

And God passes out those ribbons

To each one, even me.

 

I drink from waters laced with gold,

My world a beauty to behold;

And wise old dogs form my pride

To amble at my very side.

 

At night I sleep in an angel's arms,

Her wings protecting me,

And moonbeams dance about us

Just as stardust falls on thee.

 

So when your life on earth is spent

And you stand at Heaven's gate,

Have no fear of loneliness -

For here, you know, I wait.

 

(Author(s) unknown)