My First True Love This was written a few years back and is dedicated to my father. I hope you folks enjoy it, as it'll prob'ly be the last one I post for awhile - Interest in my writing seems to've dropped off fairly sharply... At any rate, as I mentioned earlier, this is dedicated to the man who taught me how to hunt, fish, write poetry and, above all else, smile - even when it hurts... My First True Love Well I reckon I knowed her before I could even talk - She always was a friend. Mom said she was a bitch, but 'course I wasn't worldly enough to know what a bitch was back then. I just knew I loved her with all my heart. There was never any doubt - She'd look at me with them big brown eyes And I'd just let my feelings out. Dad and my big brothers loved her too, I guess for different reasons than I did - I 'member how they'd take her out in the woods behind the house, When I was just a kid. 'They'd tell me, "You're not big enough." And I'd have to stay behind again. Then, in a couple hours, she'd come back exhausted. And they'd come back and grin! Dad said, "Mom, she's turnin' our boys into men, She really laid 'em down! Even taught me some things I didn't know..." And I'd just stand and frown! I didn't know what he was talkin' about, Or why my brothers now was men. I was feelin' all left out, then she came and kissed me, And made me feel like I was part of things again. This went on for several years, till finally Dad said, "You're big enough to tag along" one day. And I got to watch the greatest hunting dog that ever lived. Her name was Ellie Mae. She wasn't much to look at, small and slick haired, And black and brown with a little white. 'Course she had them big brown eyes, But tryin' as I might, I can't think of any one particular breed she was, Or from where her bloodline came. But she had the poise and grace of a high bred pointer And a nose that'd make a blood hound flush with shame. She was just that good, though as far huntin' goes, I don't reckon she ever had any formal kind of trainin'. But she loved my dad and she loved to hunt, And didn't care if it was snowin' or a rainin'. 'Course growin' up in Kansas, you never knew If it'd be rainin' or blowin' snow - I 'member times we'd go out huntin' the snow was high, And the temperature sure was low! But Ellie just loved it! She loved huntin' rabbit and squirrel and pheasant and quail And, well I guess 'bout every other kind of critter. Then we'd come home and dress 'em out, And she'd go and nurse her latest litter. That was something else she was good at - Seems like she could always make the boy dogs smile. 'Course most of her pups we gave away, But there were some we kept a while. But they were never quite as good as Elli Mae. She just always was the best; I 'member one time when Dad shot a squirrel, Just before it reached its nest. We was huntin' cross the river from the end of First Street, East of my hometown. The river was up and runnin' hard, And the snow was comin' down. And, well, the squirrel landed in the water - Started floatin' around the bend. 'Course it was too swift and deep and cold to wade, But Ellie dove right in! We just stood there in amazement! She'd never done anything like this before, But watchin' her sure was neat! She retrieved it, climbed the bank and looked up at Dad Then laid the squirrel at his feet. Then she wagged her tail and gave a yip Just as clear as I'm tellin' this to you - She said, "Come on Old Man, pick the damn thing up and reload! We got more huntin' left to do! ...Well, I reckon there's prob'ly a thousand other stories... But there's no need to tell the rest. She loved my dad and she loved to hunt, And she just always gave her best. She's been gone... it'll be 29 years in the fall of '01 And I'll still never forget that day - I was in sixth grade and I went out one morning to feed her And found that Ellie had passed away! And I went runnin', bawlin' back inside To tell my dad his huntin' dog was dead! And he went out and called her name - then stroked her fur As he sadly shook his head. And, well I ain't sure, but I thought I seen a tear In the corner of his eye... 'Course I was standin' there snifflin'... And he hugged me, Told me, "Go ahead and cry." She was the first creature I ever remember knowin' how to love And the best present a kid ever got on his very first birthday... She was the greatest huntin' dog I've ever known, And her name was Ellie Mae... Don Jus'Me McCrary (AKA the Kansan) Dec,1996 Back Home