Towser

[tomchap]

TOWSER

Copyright © April 2007 Tom Chapman

They say a dog is man's best friend, the same is true for boys,
And Towser had a special place compared with other toys.
From one small lad, inseparable, all through his early years
A silent friend to share good times, give comfort during tears.

A body tightly stuffed with straw, soft hair of tan and white
And glass eyes staring fixedly, alert and always bright.
And Towser never answered back, but always understood
When secret thoughts were shared with him, just like a real friend should.

The holding and the hugging over time brought its effect
Of wear from constant loving care, but never from neglect.
From ceaseless handling coloured hair began to wear quite thin
Till almost everywhere was bare down to the muslin skin.

Then later on the skin wore through, the front legs lost their straw
But Towser was as real as he had ever been before.
The ears now hairless still could hear the secrets that were shared;
At times the small boy thought his dog the only one who cared.

But Mother saw that floppy dog as just a worn out thing
That had outlived its usefulness, and something else would bring
An interest to the life of her small boy now growing up;
But he was not quite ready to farewell his precious pup.

So he was not prepared for what he accidentally saw
One afternoon when he, by chance, looked through the laundry door.
His stared in disbelief there from the friendless laundry path
While Towser in the fire heated water for the bath

And too late Mother realised how that would touch her boy.
An act of normal tidiness in throwing out his toy
Had left a hurt deep down inside, though fading as he grew,
From time to time a circumstance would bring it into view.

The spirit of that toddler still survives in one old man
Who sometimes scans the toy shops for a coat of white and tan.
I doubt he'll find a dog like that, they're not made any more
With silky hair and muslin skin, and tightly packed with straw.

[Bernard de Silva]

 G'day Tom,

                  Suppose I couldn't interest you in one of  those poodle things with the odd baaaaaark that the Japanese how been buying...
                                                                   Bernie

[the mad mare]

Lovely, sentimental piece, Silver Fox.  Perhaps you're the boy in the poem ... perhaps my rocking horse poem got you thinking about your childhood ...wherever your inspiration came from, I think the poem was great!

Kym.

[tomchap]

Bernie,

Thanks, but no thanks. I wouldn't understand a dog that spoke Japanese.  But kind of you to offer.

Cheers,

Tom

[zondrae]

Hey Tom,

Check out the 'Antiques Roadshow' on the tele. That dog of yours would be worth a small fortune these days.
I can't recall myself or any of my kids getting attached to a toy. But then we always had pet cats around to cuddle and love. (and they can 'sing' to you as well) Really enjoyed the poem. Have you ever entered any of your work in written competitions? I think you'd go ok.

[tomchap]

Hi Zondrae,
On discussing this event with my wife I found out that she too had lost childhood toys as 'give-aways', before she was ready to say goodbye to them. And years later, unwittingly, we subjected three of our own children to the same emotional hurt. We laugh about it now, and so a couple of Christmases ago we bought our eldest (48 at the time) a pink teddy as a present—a well received family joke.

I have thought about entering some of my poems in competitions, perhaps I should actually do it. Thanks for your encouragement.

I have been mostly compiling them into booklets for family presents, as most of them are from actual life experiences, and it's a way to pass on some stories from earlier days.

And Kym,
Yes, you're right about the boy, but the subject matter has been in my mind for quite a while and I have only just got around to doing anything about it.

Cheers,
Tom.

[Irene]

Great poem, Tom.

Funny what you remember from your childhood, isn't it? We don't always realise how much some things mean to a child.

Catchya
Irene

[James]

Tom thanks for shareing a great poem. I tkink we all have something that brings us back to our earlier life thank God. james

[therese]

a lovely poem tom, but such a sad end to such a stalwart friend!  just doesn't seem right