He slumbers now under an old oak tree, wrapped in his favorite blanket

Tired and weary, now relaxing in peace, dreaming

Taz came to us, a cold winter’s morn, cuddly and cute

A personality all his own, playing and barking,

So much joy, little did we know how smart this dog was

Learned to jump an eight foot fence, knock on the front door to enter

Barked when strangers came to call

Then wouldn’t let them in until he smelt, then consented

Everybody in town knew our dog, phone calls came when he appeared

Sometimes strolling across the street only to find me at work

While the boss opened the door smiling, as he walked in

Becoming a man, changed him, when the scent was in the air he was gone

Looking for that dog for days, suddenly he’d appear at the back gate

Happy to see us, vice versa, our little escape artist

Checking him for wounds of battles with other dogs

Sometimes wounded from encounters from other dogs

Throwing rocks, anything to keep him away they didn’t know Taz, a dog with discernment

Who found many ways to flee fences that kept him confined to the yard

Plugging up one hole only to find another smiling at him, his humor, smiling at you

Often wondering just how intelligent this dog really was, came to you

Needing a friend when feeling melancholy stayed by you till the days end,

 Loved to camp, swim, jump and play ball patient, loving and loyal to us till the end,

 till one day was missing never to return, he slumbers now under the old oak tree

We visit him, sit and talk about news, we miss him dearly our best friend,

 Nine years of happiness, our memories of such a complicated little dog,

with his own personality

By Cynthia Aholelei (C) May 7, 2011