And One Man Went 

To a Dog Show

(To be sung to the tune of "One 

Man Went to Mow a Meadow")

*Ken Ball                              *NSW*
Went to go to a dog show,
Ken Ball and his dog: SPOT!
Went to go to a dog show.

*Phllipa Wieley                     *Tas*
Went to go
Went to go to a dog show,
Phillipa, Ken Ball
And his dog Spot!   
Went to go to a dog show.

*Heather  Pearson               *WA*
Went to go
Went to go to a dog show,
Heather, Phillipa, Ken Ball
And his dog Spot!   
Went to go to a dog show.

*Irene Thomson                 *NZ*
Went to go
Went to go to a dog show,
Irene, Heather, Phillipa, Ken Ball
And his dog Spot!   
Went to go to a dog show

*Jenny Brice                        *SA*
Went to go
Went to go to a dog show,
Jenny, Irene, Heather, Phillipa, 
Ken Ball And his dog Spot!   
Went to go to a dog show

*Katrina Tucker                  *NT*
Went to go
Went to go to a dog show,
Katrina, Jenny, Irene, Heather, 
Phillipa, Ken Ball And his dog Spot!   
Went to go to a dog show

*Norma Davis                       *Qld*
Went to go
Went to go to a dog show,
Norma, Katrina, Jenny, Irene, Heather, 
Phillipa, Ken Ball And his dog Spot!
Went to go to a dog show

*Trish Lamb       *EL PRESIDENT*
Went to go
Went to go to a dog show,
Trish, Norma, Katrina, Jenny, 
Irene, Heather, Phillipa, Ken Ball 
And his dog Spot!   
Went to go to a dog show

The entire Charlie population
Went to go
Went to go to a dog show,
WithTrish, Norma, Katrina, Jenny, 
Irene, Heather and Phillipa 
Went to see
Ken Ball And his dog Spot!   
Went to go to a dog show
Run around the ring at a dog show.

By Kim Kemp

Staffordshire Dogs 

In my grandmother's parlour on cold wintry days,
Before cosy fires, I'd ponder and gaze
Up at the mantle above blazing logs
To what I liked best - her two pottery dogs.

Those dogs crossed o'er oceans for thousands of miles
And they'd witnessed changes and sorrow and smiles.
While staring down from the mantle above,
Filling the room with their own special love.

Bought at market in a village in Kent,
Those dogs travelled with her wherever she went.
Moulded so crudely by young workers' hands;
Painted so boldly with brush strokes so grand.

Whether purchased in pairs or simply alone,
Most fashionable ornament for all folk to own.
A Victorian parlour was never quite right,
Without pottery King Charles completing the sight.

What became of her dogs nobody can say -
But they disappeared after she passed away.
Now in antique shops many dogs of this sort
Are cherished' by collectors and eagerly bought.

Yet few people these days know what breed they are,
Although a century ago they were the star
Of all the dog world, and no one quite knows
Why their numbers have dwindled in all our dog shows.

But I know the answer, and my life's complete

With the small, playful dogs that crowd at my feet.
Just like wise Victorians and Edwardians, I know
My love of the King Charles will blossom and grow.

Dennis J. Cook
© 1994

The Comforter   

I chose you when a small bundle of joy
To console me in many a lonely hour.
When friends and kin had chosen to ignore,
You brought me peace, and joy and power,
Without questioning.

In times long past some thought you'd heel
The ills of body that you came to touch,
Like doctors now, performing many cures,
You were the one who could do much
To mitigate the pain.

Though your thoughts can never be spoken,
So your woes are kept locked within
I confide in you all of my troubles
And you stay by me through thick and thin
Offering comfort.

So, time crawls by at snail-like pace,
And fever crosses my- troubled brow.
While life is slowly ebbing away,
You make no judgements here and now.
Stay gentle Spaniel,
.
When my soul finally passes beyond ,
You'll stay by me till forced to move.
For you were strictly a one-person dog,
And all your life were able to prove
Your fidelity.

When prizes come (if any there be)
I hope we'll meet in some distant time
And for the love you gave unselfishly,
Our souls in harmony will forever climb
Towards eternity.

for Ana Tauheka Haves
Dennis J. Cook 1994

THE LITTLE BLACK DOG

I wonder if Christ had a little black dog,
All curly and woolly like mine,
With two long, silk ears & a nose round & wet,
And two eyes brown & tender that shine.
I'm sure if he had, that little black dog
Knew right from the first he was God,
That he needed no proof that Christ was divine,
But just worshipped the ground He trod.
I'm afraid that He hadn't, because I have read
How He prayed in the Garden alone,
When all of his friends & disciples had fled,
Even Peter, that one called a stone.
And oh, I am sure that little black dog
With a true heart so tender & warm
Would never have left Him to suffer alone,
But creep right under His arm;
Would have licked those dear fingers in agony clasped
And counting all favours but loss,
When they led Him away, would have trotted behind
And followed Him quite to the cross.

By: Elizabeth Gardner Reynolds
(copied with permission)