This poem is from my blog http://rambo-fromthetipofmytail.blogspot.com/, which chronicles a decade of Rambo, his exploits, reminiscences and what I imagine to be his confessions. Rambo is on his 13^th yr, and having put the irreparable loss of a forelimb behind him, he is going from strength to strength. The exploits may be few and far between, but he still retains the zest of yore. The first decade was a relentless saga of truants, duels and him inviting all kinds of trouble. These have made for countless comic, tender, gut wrenching and above all memorable moments. Am taking the liberty to write this on his behalf for all the trouble he has got me into, including facing the ire of some of his most dangerous canine adversaries. They couldn’t get at him so they tried to get the better of me.

This poem in particular is dedicated to all the pets we’ve had in the family over 3 generations.

The Shepherd - Snippets from a Dream¹

Nabi is just ’round this corner   

Therefore the spring in our steps 

It’s good to be back home

After the annual sojourn to Tibet

Lucky and I were sent ahead by

Chandra thithey, Tara and young Tashi

To signify the party’s arrival,

They are a day away from Nabi 

 Dharmi lala sees us approach

She hails us in her trademark shrill voice

Russie rushes to welcome us

Eager barks mark our keen strides

A fruitful trading endeavor it was 

Lala will be content to know

It’ll be a time for thanksgiving

When the family arrives tomorrow

After a lavish supper

Lucky, Russie and I laze in our courtyard

Under the aegis of guardian mountains

A bridge between us and the stars

It’s been friendly weather all season

And promises to remain so  

Pray that the travelers are blessed with

An agreeable day tomorrow 

Black coat, a white tip of the tail

A mistrustful complexion as per hill myth

Lucky is hardly visible in the dark

But on his incorruptibility, we insist

He was named by an English traveler 

A guest of Nabi and this house for a while.

Amongst our mother’s (Kali’s) six new borns    

Lucky stood out in a litter of white

I am third in the litter, Lucky is second

Mikya, Sheti and Russie, the other siblings

The eldest is Mikya, our leader

Sheti is fourth, the sixth didn’t live

Mikhya and Sheti are with the party

Encamped only a day away

After securing the flock for the night

They should be calling it a day

Mikhya² is an adept shepherd

Under his instruction, we guard our flocks

Picture him, an imposing frame of white

Auspicious brown patches for eye brows

He is loved as much as the Amtikar

And in the household, enjoys a pride of place

Sheti and Roussie are favorites too

Since both have twenty two toe nails³

As for me, I’m as tall as Mikhya

And my coat is a white you’ve never seen

And though I’m a bumbling shepherd

I’m a fine specimen of the breed

What coincidence some say

Given that shepherd dogs are rarely white

That four in a family bear this trait 

It is one of nature’s rarest sights

 ¹ The poem is set in the 1960s

² Mikhya is the name of the dog, and also a term to describe a dog of the given physical description. Mikhya is said to bring good luck to a household

³Dogs with twenty two toe nails are considered auspicious for a household.