Countdown

1
Both were old.
Late afternoons
Around the block
They’d walk the dog.
A small black Labrador-and,

2
Around the block,
As time marched on,
The walking pair grew frail
‘til just the man alone walked
A small black Labrador-and,

3
A further shift in time.
His back is stooped,
He shuffles round the block
But sans his faithful friend,
A small black Labrador and,

4
Then without a hint
The stooped old man
Is no longer seen.
Man and wife together with
A small black Labrador – gone!

5
Observing the demise
Were two people and
Their three dogs.
Together as a group
They also walk around the block.

6
As time marched on,
The walking pair grew older.
But if one dog ‘departed’
Another took its place and
They’d walk around the block.

7
Eventually it was she
Who was the next
To be missed. So now
Just him with three dogs and
They walk around the block.
8
Only time will tell
Who twixt the man and dogs
Will reduce the group to three.
Then two, ‘til finally none
Will walk around the block.

Keith Beavon
22:ix:2009