Shawnee
Within lies the loveliness of one perfect rose,
The sparkling beauty of fresh winter snows,
The magic of moonlight, a star's gentle smile,
While the bravest of hearts beats inside all the while.
What a wonderful beast, how noble and true,
Who'd gladly give his life for me or for you.
Who'll tolerate no nonsense, yet wears her heart on her sleeve,
Who lives for your return each time that you leave.
Whose joy has no measure, for when the night sky is cast,
She has always lived the day as if it were her last.
Who cannot but share with you such gladness and mirth,
For this happiness seems instilled in him even at birth.
When our day brings us wearily to our front door,
When the weight of the world has us feeling so poor,
On the other side is a spirit whose love for us shines,
To whom all our worries and frustrations is blind.
Jez
Who could this dog be, we read nothing of its breed,
So wonderful and loving, for sure the public would take heed.
Yes, it's a pit bull terrier that I characterize,
Yet the newspapers say the dog is despised.
So vicious and evil that all human lives are in peril,
His behavior so violent, so low and so feral.
How could it be that this dog filled with laughter,
Is portrayed as a villain and so hatefully sought after.
How could this `pit', deep in dreams at my feet,
Be the one that they speak of, so dreadful to meet.
How could this dog, at my side strong and brave,
Be the one they so freely describe as depraved?
The answer is simple; I'm sure you all know,
Only man himself could bring a pit bull so low.
No `'pit' abused another, nor ever fired a gun;
He never tortured his kind for his own perverse fun.
Penny
No `pit' was ever driven by money or greed,
For ego and false pride, he's never had need.
No, only a man this wretched reputation could make,
For a `pit's' heart remains pure though his life be at stake.
So look after your pup, keep him close by your side,
For there are many who'd disparage and lie.
Keep guard over her fate; give her life your protection;
This dog so maligned, yet with so few imperfections.
For when all's said and done, in our hearts we are sure,
That the pit bull terrier as a breed will endure.
Through the good times and bad, at our best or our worst,
These angels bring us all a piece of heaven on earth.
Jeanne Balsam
Friends of Terriers
CopyrightŠ1999
If you enjoyed this poem and would like to share it with others, please
send them to the Friends of Terriers web site. This poem and artwork are copyrighted
and may not be reproduced without permission of the artist.
The border artwork and other pit bull terrier artwork are available
as holiday postcards through
Please check back in the future for photos and
stories of these three Friends of Terriers rescue dogs who are no longer with us,
but who have truly been angels to many other pit bull terriers in need.
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