Harum Scarum

‘I can save the dog or the leg’

Was what the vet said to us

My father got that whimsical

Look on his face

‘We’ll keep the leg’

Oh what fun we had

Harum-scarum through the alleyways of childhood

The leg leapt the highest hurdles

Shot up the sheerest inclines

I clung on for a pell-mell joyride

As the other children watched in envy

Back home he siphoned drumstick soup

Through a feeding hose

And curled up to sleep

On a foot stool

But time passes and

All things come to an end

Even my leggy friend

We buried him in the backyard

I stood by the grave and shed a silent tear

Beside me stood the ghost of a three-legged dog

But ghosts

Cannot cry