GROWING UP AS A CHILD, THERE'S THIS NEIGHBOR I KNEW,
WHO HAD A SMALL DOG,AND HE CALLED HIM "OLE BLUE".
OLE BLUE IS A COON HOUND, NOW UP IN HIS YEARS,,,,
HIS JAWS ARE ALL SAGGING,AND HAS LONG FLOPPY EARS.

I REMEMBER HOW ACTIVE THAT DOG USED TO BE,,,,
IT THRILLED ME TO WATCH HIM, WITH A COON UP A TREE!

I'D ROAMED THROUGH THE WOODS, WITH OLE BLUE BY MY SIDE,
I KNEW I WAS SAFE, WITH OLE BLUE AS MY GUIDE.

WHEN HE'S OWNER WOULD WHISTLE,,,,,,HIS EARS RAISED STRAIGHT UP!
I'VE KNOWN HIM TO DO THIS SINCE HE WAS A PUP.

THE SCHOOL BUS WOULD RUN, AND OLE BLUE WATCHED ME GO,
HE LOOKED SO "DOWN HEARTED", HE MISSED ME I KNOW!
WHEN TIME TO COME HOME, HE;D MEET ME EACH DAY,
IMPATIENTLY WAITING, FOR HIS BUDDY TO PLAY!

WE GREW UP TOGETHER, FROM EACH OTHER WE LEARNED,,,
IF ONE WASN'T WELL,,,,,,THE OTHER'S CONCERNED!

"OLE BLUE" WAS "GREASE LIGHTNING", HOT AS A TORCH!
BUT IT TAKES ALL HE'S GOT NOW TO GET OFF THE PORCH.


DAYS FILLED WITH LAUGHTER,,,,NOT A MINUTE, WE'D SPARE!
NOW, COONS CAN DO SOMERSAULTS!!!! DO YU THINK THAT HE'D CARE????

"OLE BLUE", STILL MY BUDDYWE'RE BOTH A BIT "SLOW",
HIS HEARING IS BAD NOW, BUT HE CAN HEAR ME, I KNOW!

HIS EYES TEND TO WATER,AND HIS VISION IS WEAK,,,,,,
BUT SITS AT "ATTENTION", EACH TIME THAT I SPEAK.
HIS TAIL STARTS TO WAGGING, EACH DAY I WALK UP,
I'VE KNOWN HIM TO DO THIS SINCE HE WAS A "PUP".

NOW,,,,,,,ME AND OLE BLUE, WE'VE SHARED MANY YEARS I'M SURE WHEN HE "PASSES", I'LL SHED MANY TEARS........

IF I SHOULD GO FIRST,I'M SURE HE WILL GRIEVE,
HE WON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HIS "FRIEND" HAD TO LEAVE!


FOR NOW WE'LL ENJOY THE COMPANY WE KEEP,
FOR EVENUALLY, ONE OF US WILL "DRIFT" OFF TO SLEEP.....


                               IN MEMORIES OF A BEST FRIEND
                                                                          
                                                                                            CAROLYN LOVE