Axel that’s me

Yes I am that German Shepherd
a proud boy in my way
forced to live in a dark cold shack
why I was forced to pay
such a price for living
chained up to a wall
my back leg sort of under me
and no one to hear my call

such pain a gnawing loneliness
that sucked me of my strength
sometimes I was given food
but gradually the length
of time between feeds
worsened
and I was left alone
when I heard something
of course I barked
but weakened
I did groan

days and nights passed
slowly
the pain inside of me
what I would have given
the sunlight just to see
to run through all the tall grass
and leap into that pool
and feel that cold sweet water
as in it I did fall

but no this chain was cutting
into me every day
I dare not try to pull on it
for it just made me pay
I knew that I was bleeding
already, I could feel
the agony which seemed to me
to be so very real

it seemed to attract blue bottles
they laid eggs on my skin
and maggots began eating me
I felt them within
but my neck was sore
and bloody
my fur was matted so
I felt so weak I dare not move
I prayed aloud to go

the rainbow bridge seemed closer
the tunnel to that place
longer than it might have been
if I could have seen my face
I am Axcel once a very proud
German Shepherd but I
have suffered like no other
no other German guy

my so called human masters
hurt me very much
my loyalty was squandered
they wouldn’t even touch
me
I of course am tactile
I love to feel warm hands

but alone like this
I truly have no plans
other than to die here
the maggots at least can
feast upon my body
as my life goes down the pan

and then as I was resting
having fasted many days
having realised my end was near
I was reaching a phase
where nothing seemed to matter
the pain had gone away
a light came through a door
I heard a voice which seemed to say

something
had I reached the rainbow bridge
that special place
what was happening in my life
there, but for God’s grace
and then great light was with me
the door was open wide
someone else was with me
someone else inside

a soft voice a sweet pat I felt
was I being saved
was I being rescued
inside of me I raved
yes I was

and here I am
back in touch with life
lovely people at my side
who care
and no more strife