Old Scrapyard Spike

Old Scrapyard Spike

A Poem by Cambion

Look through the fence, you see that beast there?
  That tense lump of muscle and mange-ridden hair?
That's old Scrapyard Spike, and this is his lair;
  Don't tread in his yard on adventure nor dare.

Old Scrapyard Spike, he's been a-weathered for years;
  In his chain-link domain, rain-soaked despair.
Unfed in the morning, watered only with tears;
  Unsheltered from squalls, corroded by glare.

Now poor Scrapyard Spike wasn't always so old,
  When he was a puppy, they told him they loved him;
But when he grew up, he had to make friends with the cold,
  For with the clink of a fence, he was thrown out on a whim.

So Spike spent his days alone with his chain;
  He sweltered at noon and slept wet with the rain;
And all those who passed him discounted his pain:
  "He's just an old cur" was the daily refrain.

And then one cold day, a girl found her way in;
  Her flesh on her bones, blood coursing unspilled.
Old Spike smelled her first, his chain went a-slitherin'
  And the lost child stood rooted, her every nerve chilled.

The silence of metal, broken plastic and glass,
  The beast came a-running, his chain length a ploy;
And jaws opened wide as he lunged for the lass;
  But when his head pressed her thigh, he whimpered with joy.

Old Spike raised the call with a manticore's thunder;
  A summoning cast with his lungs' every strain.
She petted him gently, whose care she was under,
  Though his poor heart convulsed as he looked back at his chain.

The clangor succeeded, a blue-clad protector
  Saw the beast at her heel, and he drew as he lept;
An ounce of hot metal found Scrapyard Spike's skull,
  And the last thing he heard was his friend as she wept.

© 2015 Cambion


My Review

Would you like to review this Poem?
Login | Register




Featured Review

Mr C - I was coming to the end of this and I was cussing you - I love dogs (more than people maybe) and I was cussing you for bringing me into this yard of cruelty and neglect. Then when the end came I stopped cussing you and the realisation that you were telling a story of kindness sank in. Im sorry for making an assumption about this poem (and by extension you) -

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Cambion

9 Years Ago

Thanks, ANTO. I always try to bring attention to neglected animals when I detect neglect. Poor Spike.. read more
ANTO

9 Years Ago

so with you on that man ...
so with you



Reviews

How have I only just found this? So bittersweet, I really like it and the fact is not as simple as it might first appear. Bravo.

Posted 7 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Symbolizing boys and dogs do not get away from work

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Aw, crap. This reminds me of something that happened when I was a kid. Very fine writing, even though it ended with a sob.

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Cambion

9 Years Ago

Thanks for reading!
This is a wonderfully penned ballad;albeit sad. Spike at least felt the touch of kindness before his demise..great tale..

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Ouch! what an ending. I love poems that tell a story. When I was young, I remember seeing an old dog that used to be tied up to a doghouse at a cabinet making place. I felt terrible for him. He looked skinny although they fed him. He wound up having some kind of disease and he wasted away although they all loved him. Good poem.

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

This comment has been deleted by the poster.
Cambion

9 Years Ago

Thanks for reading! (my last message seems to have gotten corrupted by a script crash or something)
Relic's Bare Trees

9 Years Ago

That happens once in a while. I keep getting ads that pop up on my page.

You're welcome.. read more
Jesus.
That ending was depressing.
I...I have nothing.
De-press-ing.
Haha.

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Cambion

9 Years Ago

Imagine all those romantic Spikes out there who went to that eternal scrapyard in the sky without ev.. read more
Vanesa Markovic

9 Years Ago

I latched onto the death, a pessimist to my core.
I suppose your insight has brought some lig.. read more
This tugs at every chord in my heart.
I hate seeing animals abused and neglected.
The ending choked me up.
Well done.

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Cambion

9 Years Ago

I think it'd be awesome for David Lewis Paget to read this. That guy knows his stuff! I dunno if he .. read more
Matching Socks

9 Years Ago

Maybe send a message?
Cambion

9 Years Ago

I've learned to refrain from directly messaging famous people. I'm really quite new to social media .. read more
Mr C - I was coming to the end of this and I was cussing you - I love dogs (more than people maybe) and I was cussing you for bringing me into this yard of cruelty and neglect. Then when the end came I stopped cussing you and the realisation that you were telling a story of kindness sank in. Im sorry for making an assumption about this poem (and by extension you) -

Posted 9 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Cambion

9 Years Ago

Thanks, ANTO. I always try to bring attention to neglected animals when I detect neglect. Poor Spike.. read more
ANTO

9 Years Ago

so with you on that man ...
so with you

Share This
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Request Read Request
Add to Library My Library
Subscribe Subscribe


Stats

760 Views
8 Reviews
Rating
Added on January 8, 2015
Last Updated on January 12, 2015
Tags: poem, poetry, despair, love, sacrifice, compassion

Author

Cambion
Cambion

Amherst, MA



About
I'm a big fan of the English language. more..

Writing
Death Tiger Death Tiger

A Poem by Cambion



Related Writing

People who liked this story also liked..