Old Ben

Old Ben lies sleeping quiet and still
No more to run the fields and hills
Of herding sheep he's had his fill
He'll go no more a working

Old Ben's a dog of many years
Now shabby coat and crumpled ears
With clouded eye and grizzled beard
He'll go no more a working

He knows his master's call so well
Come bye, get out, lie down, to heel
A younger dog his job now steals
He'll go no more a working

His basket by the Aga lies
He stiffly turns around and sighs
Though he still barks at passers by
He'll go no more a working

Then sometimes he will rise alert
When down the lane his master's heard
He tries to run but must return
He'll go no more a working

And will I miss my working days
And sit and dream my time away
Or make life one long holiday
I'll go no more a working

Old Ben lies sleeping quiet and still
No more to run the fields and hills
Of herding sheep he's had his fill
He'll go no more a working

Chris Flegg Jan 2007