The Border Collie

By Janus Hendrikse. 29/10/2018

Artist Caroline Smith

A Warden, Shepherd of sheep,

His flock to harbour and keep

From wolves bewrxit the meadows,

And Foxes lurking in shrouded shadows

The Cardinal virtue of graceful dance,

With legs of dexterous finesse,

An athlete of Wind, swift and nimble

Defying fatigue, till daylights tumble

Fur of a Gemini Mirror

A coat of spledour

Both plush, equals of an edifice

One Smooth like satin

Effusing towards the horizon

The other wavy with wonder

Woven from the ocean’s splendour

Eyes hewn from opals dark

A gaze that ensnares their mark

Nebulous pools unfathomable

Symbols of love, loyal and honourable

Collies rule and herd with might

Blessed with the gift of a steely sight

Lest sheep become impertinent

With will strong and dominant

To control the maelstrom of mistchief

Led by their leader, Hornswogle pontief

The collie bows low to the ground

Stout with confidence sound

Glaring towards the rancorous flock

The stare petrifies with pulsing shock

A chameleon once shepherd now wolf

Will nip the deviant hoof

Sheep now lulled in a tranquil trance

Unable to rebel, bleat only obedience

Loyalty without fault

An intellect without doubt

A workhorse, fit, robust

A farmhand loyal to trust

Friendly to all they encounter

A fine host to chat with banter

Alas our herder genius

Has a habit most sedulous

To herd all pigmy creatures

They of smaller statures

Be it a child small and shrimpy

Kittens of squeaking mews tiny

Ducks and puppies, that quack and howl

A motley flock, to keep from prowl

With founts of endless elan vital

Shall turn your life topsy pivotal

Shall trudge trenches in ground and earth

A tenacious will is needed

To tame this hound of skills most spirited

A fable is murmured and told

By herders wizened and old

A curse of a moon born ilk

Where a collie is born White like milk

Sheep, shall laugh and be unholy

For none shall listen to a snowy white collie

Left to their own clever chicanery

Shall spiral towards mischievous trickery

The Border Collie of Keenest Mind

Loyal, industrious and kind

The herder of wicked sheep

The adamant vigil they keep