Storm Dog: a Ballad

By Penny Gurner

‘There’s a storm dog sniffing around,’ said Dad

Its breath is blue, and grey

Searching the contours of the sky

The breeze his mode of play

He owned the tree with a spark of light

It caught, and smoked awhile

It taught the long grass how to burn

And hunger for every mile

‘There’s a fire on the ridge, said Dad,

Heading down the hill.’

‘We’ll catch it if we’re lightning fast,

And save the Tanner’s mill.’

Days went past, we heard from Dad,

The battle was at an end.

The fire had taken all it could,

Just ashes left to send.

There’s a storm dog sniffing around, said Dad

Almost afraid to look

Spatter fell and found hard ground

A nook became a brook

Tears fell on every face

As help landed in bowls

It held, and flowed, and soaked below

A fountain for our souls

Grass came back, and trust as well,

All little things grew big

Storm dog’s breath nosed the hill

Green sod for him to dig

By Penny Gurner