This poem was inspired by excellent poet Helen Mort’s distress on Facebook regarding her lovely whippet, Bell. Bell often accompanies Helen to gigs and is impeccably behaved. However, when separated from Helen, Bell becomes anxious and miserable. My heart goes out to both of them.
Note: it seems somewhat cheeky to write ‘in the voice’ of an active poet. Helen’s actual poetic voice is very, very good, and utterly different to my bizarre attempt!
If you would like to hear Helen’s poetic voice, and you’re in Sheffield tonight, there may still be tickets available for her performance at the Lyric festival. Check her out. You may even meet Bell.
There’s nothing I can do about your fear
You cannot comprehend that I would never
Abandon you. There’s no way you can tell
That you are mine and I am yours, my dear
Sweet dog, and that it will be so for ever
I hate to see you so upset, my Bell
I only wish you could believe me, Bell
Let life experience defeat your fear
When I have left you crying, have I ever
Stayed away for long? You know that I have never
Let you suffer more than I could help it. Dear,
Although you cannot understand, I tell
You where I’m going, hope that you can tell
How much I care about you, little Bell.
When I’m away from you I’ll think ‘Oh dear
My dog is torturing herself with fear.
I’m out of sight, and now she thinks I’m never
Coming back, and that she’s all alone forever’
I look at you and wonder, will there ever
Be a time that, when I leave you, I can tell
That you’ll be calm and happy, that you’ll never
Destroy my things in fear and panic. Bell,
Sometimes I have to go. But never fear
I won’t abandon you. You are my dear
And precious dog. No animal’s more dear
What happened to you? Will this be forever?
Will you always be haunted by the fear
Of being alone? I wish that you could tell
Me what to do to earn your trust, my Bell
But I’m afraid that I will find you never
Really understand, I’m worried I will never
Learn how to teach you to be calm. Oh dear,
Perhaps you can’t be happy with me, Bell
But how could I abandon you forever?
I’ve promised you can stay. How can I tell
You that you can’t, and justify your fear?
I promise, Bell. I promise that you never
Really need to fear. You are my dog, my dear.
You’re safe, but can you ever really tell?
Tom Juniper Poetry 