In Memory of Lily

Lily was born, raised and perhaps had 13 litters of puppies at the Reedgate Kennels in Missouri before she was purchased at auction by her new family.  Although not a Boston Terrier,  Lily's poem is definitely worth reading.

In Memory of Lily

She withstood her life of misery
Her cage was her domain
The hopelessness, the loneliness
She was a number with no name.

Her eyes had never glistened
No love, her heart had known
Her cries were never answered
Her doom was hers, alone.

Her body, torn and tattered
So weak, so thin and frail
Her small sweet face disfigured,
As she languished in her jail.

Like the others all around her
From neglect she lived in pain
Oh, humans void of heart and souls
Were surely those to blame.

Shrouded behind secrecy
They perpetuate their lies
The puppy mills breed misery
Kept hidden from our eyes.

Then breaking thru the darkness
An angel brought the light
Reaching down with kindness
To alleviate this plight.

And so a few were taken
To be given a new start
And a mission was now realized
From deep within a heart.
Discarded were the numbers,
Now Lily was her name
She was nurtured now and cared for
And the others, just the same.

She responded to the kindness
She was kissed upon her head
Each night as she lay sleeping
In her warm and cozy bed.

From beginnings that were tragic
Lily now embraced the love
But she would only stay a minute
She had lessons up above.

Her life brought inspiration
She taught her humans well
About courage and conviction
To save others from the hell.

Lily's life had purpose
As she endured such strife and pain
She emerged with great forgiveness
Oh, her life was not in vain.

Now the cozy bed is empty
But Lily's memory lingers still
And hundreds more will follow
…..Rescued from the mill.

Bari Mears
Copyright 2008