Prologue - poems one, two and four present the three protagonists, Spuddy, Jake and Andy, and follow the theme of abandonment. Spuddy ( the dog) was abandoned by his owner, Jake, by his wife and Andy by his Mother. The subsequent poems show how their lives intertwined and the final outcome. The setting is somewhere on the Isle of Skye.

i) Abandoned

His owner has died so nobody needs him now

he'll survive the winter but not quite sure how

old Joe has died but his wife had left before

no smoke comes out of the chimney anymore

"sink him into the depths of the deep blue sea

that dog needs putting out of his misery"

neighbours didn't have anytime for stray dogs

his kennel will soon feed the fire with logs

he looks in the food bowl but there's nothing there

people shuffle on by without a care

a look of abandonment you can't ignore

lonely as a little lamb lost on the moor

a new family move in and make it their home

now Spuddy is helpless with nowhere to roam

hangs round the pier in the hope of some food

rejection in his eyes, starvation ensued.

ii) Once he was a hero

Joe and Spuddy were walking along the beach

when the undertow took a child out of reach

the old man faltered as the sea was too cold

his body couldn't face it he had grown too old

but Spuddy was in there, he didn't have to think twice

the cost was so high but he would pay the price

with military precision and glass eyeball gleams

a sea dog at heart, hastened to the child's screams

somehow he guided her back on to the shore

found a higher sandbank, who could have wished for more

Father besides himself, struggles what to say

"that dog needs a medal and without a delay"

but time went by and no medal ever came

and now Spuddy thinks it's the end of the game

he keeps his head down as circumstances allow

because no-one at all wants to know him now.

iii) The Skipper

Jake gazes down on his young sleeping son

longing for the day when they'll both have some fun

maybe playing football on the local park

or both fishing together until it gets dark

little did he know, the battle lines were drawn

an empty house doesn't bring a cheerful dawn

when she left him he didn't know what to think

like an abandoned croft he fell into drink

in a cold empty home as quiet as the night

the Skipper at sea has a weekend respite

loneliness pervades within the four walls

from deep within a bottle his sanctuary calls

she left without even saying goodbye

his family dream was now pie in the sky

all he ever did was work hard to provide

she never even pondered why their marriage had died.

iv) Andy

When he was a toddler, not much older than two

it seemed his Mother's maternal interest was through

on a nice day they would maybe go for a walk

but she would get frustrated - Andy couldn't talk

she would often entertain her high flying friends

under a large thatched roof with stone gable ends

but Andy was an embarassment to his mum

no-one had any time for him - Andy was dumb

as he stood watching his Father's ship coming in

it was the most excited he had ever been

when he saw his dad he wanted to give a shriek

but he just gave a wave - Andy couldn't speak

when they got home they realised Mother had gone

a letter on the sideboard Father gazed upon

read with a silent dignity, he was very astute

but a distraught son couldn't vent - Andy was mute.

v) New lives

The  Merchant Navy once again took dad away

but Uncle Ben and Auntie Sarah saved the day

they were unable to have any children of their own

so they took in Andy and he made it his home

Uncle Ben was henpecked but had big smiling eyes

Auntie Sarah was soft under that scuttle and tongue disguise

Andy couldn't take it in, so much sea, sand and sky

all roads lead to the harbour, where he passed his days by

he took to an old dog but it kept running away

he vowed "you are going to be my friend one day"

ployed it with mutton but his advances were still spurned

stray dogs have trust issues  Andy soon learned

with his head in his hands he sat down and cried

but when he raised his head the dog was by his side

from that day forward they relied on each other

Spuddy stuck to Andy closer than a brother

by collecting pop bottles he got some money together

fed him from his own pocket in all island weather

Uncle Ben had a unit down near the pier

from which he'd turn a blind eye when Spuddy would appear

but when confronted by his wife he had to come clean

and got a right scolding that couldn't have been foreseen

"keep away from that dog, he's going to be put down"

now Andy mopes around with a permanent frown.

vi) A Gift

Andy spoke his words through paint, pencils and art

as surges of adrenalin proceeded through his heart

each and every brushstroke was a desperate plea

"I want to speak but can't, so please listen to me"

he silently screamed in the pictures that he drew

speaking through art in a way that only he knew

hours of wordless sketching, portraying island life

helped him put in place his inimitable strife

like a lost wave that's always searching for the shore

hands dancing across the canvass his heart is in furore

seascapes, mountains and sunsets adorn his coloured sheets

a mute yet gifted Painter walks the tired and lonely streets

vii) Mellowing

It didn't take long before he was thrown out of school

because he couldn't speak they thought he was a fool

Sarah hitherto displayed her kind, tender side

she taught Andy at home and swallowed her pride

it didn't take too long before he could read and write

he was willing to learn and incredibly bright

you couldn't seperate him from a mountain of books

soaked up information with those keen learned looks

The pageantry of the harbour gave Andy's spirit a lift

a painting for Auntie and Uncle would make a perfect gift

he had never once caught them arguing before

like an angel, with his gift, stood Andy at the door

so calmly Sarah regains her composure

and gives such a sensitive matter it's closure

"it doesn't matter it is just a means to an end

Andy is a mute boy and he needs a good friend".

viii) The Silver Crest

There was one boat in the harbour that Andy liked best

he longed to run his hand down the hull of the 'Silver Crest'

it's varnished timbers looked golden in the turquoise water

what a joy when she berthed when he was out for a saunter

in the excitement he didn't know how much he could take

looking over his easle he came face to face with Jake!

Ironically this should have made his heart rejoice

but Andy couldn't explain himself - he didn't have a voice

Andy ran away, he couldn't handle it anymore

but he left his perfect sketch lying on the floor

when Jake picked it up he just couldn't believe his eyes

"if this was in a competition it would win the first prize"

but Jake stormed off angry as he thought Andy was rude

complained bitterly to his mate of this kind of brood

"for heavens sake Skipper" he bawled "has your mind gone numb!

That's the boy Ben's took in, that's the boy who's dumb"

ix) In which Jake makes amends

On the back of the painting was a letter to his dad

Jake hung on every word and this made him feel sad

"dear dad, of all the boats in the bay there's one I like best

nothing comes anywhere near to the Silver Crest"

later on in the week Jake found Andy again

and in Jake's kind of way did his best to explain

"why don't you and your dog come and jump up aboard"

a chance he couldn't pass up on a boat he adored

the boat that had battled storms and waves so wild

was now being stroked by an appreciative child

how many mackerel had been dragged accross this deck?

it was here the Skipper found peace on many a trek.

x) Spuddy the sea dog

Jake looks inquisitively into Spuddy's big brown eyes

the dog has lost his home and can't conceal the disguise

Ben's unit has gone so now Andy is hard pressed

Spuddy needs a new home, could that  be the Silver Crest?

Well, the Skipper has to make one thing clear

as Andy resists a lonely tear...

"there is one thing on which we both must depend

I'm Spuddy's master but you are his friend"

Jake showed him around even gave him his own shelf

Spuddy thought more of his master than he did of himself

Jake could sense that he had got Spuddy's full trust

a wagging tail of loyalty - honest and just

Andy accepted that it was all for the best

although missing Spuddy put him to the test

he wanted to say ' please enjoy wherever you roam

but just make sure of one thing - you always bring him home!

xi) Weekends

Throughout the week Andy works hard at his studies

but when Spuddy gets home they're the best of buddies

running up mountains he would wiggle an ear

then pause to make sure that Andy was near

happily galloping along an empty beach

aware that Andy doesn't have the power of speech

hour after hour and mile after mile

he thumps his tail as Andy gives a smile

once he was a lost soul but now life is good

Andy was his best friend, Andy understood

at the end of the day he gets a pat on the head

but it was a mystery where he made his bed

out in the gloaming when it began to get dark

without fail Spuddy gave his night time bark

then out in the morning Hebridean air

he'd walk down the lane and Spuddy would be there.

xii) The Mascot

With Spuddy on board that run of bad luck ended

it turned out exactly as Jake had intended

when they heard a scratching on the wheelhouse door

it was the sound of success they could not ignore

from stern to stem he ran with such gallant strength

or stared into the mysterious sea at length

they would drop down the nets at the mascot's bark

nets bursting with Herring were soon his trademark

his wit and capabilities nothing could outshine

the sudden increase in the butcher's bill was just fine

they said he was worth his weight in steak each week

Spuddy looked on in triumph though still mild and meek

so years went on by with many forgotten glories

and the Herring spotter Mascot had many untold stories

with the sea wind in his hair it was easy to be clever

but a man of the sea knows good things don't last forever.

xiii) A drink's a drink (cradle song)

A drink's a drink Skipper but you've gone too far

a shadow of your former self props up the bar

your own son doesn't even recognise you anymore

you know that life can't be like it was before

a drink's a drink Skipper but you don't know when to stop

you don't have any limits, just drink 'till you drop

blanking out the pain with more whisky in your glass

but your fixes don't mend a single thing that comes to pass

a drink's  a drink Skipper but it's taking your life

your true love walked out now the sea is your wife

finest Skipper there ever was, that's what we all think

but we think our Skipper is killing himself with drink.

xiv) Intuition

At the mention of 'ceilidh' away they flew

now the boys have a break for an hour or two

to the sound of crab shells crunching on the sand

Andy comes along to meet them, sketch pad in hand

as they start to alight Spuddy's all in a quiver

not his normal self, he soon begins to shiver

a flat calm pervades the ocean with not a hint of rage

but could the old sea dog be showing his age?

For some unknown reason Spuddy doesn't want to go

Andy points to the hills but he doesn't want to know

after finally conceding that Spuddy knew best

he stays with his master aboard the Silver Crest

the anchor's firm and the sea's quiet in the bay

the lads can let their hair down at the end of the day

Jake stays aboard he just wants to sit and think

pondering alone he pours himself a drink.

xv) Ceilidh

Andy loved the Ceilidh

they danced away all night

only supposed to be an hour or two

but it brought them such delight

they jigged away past midnight

'till the night turned into day

oblivious of the blizzard

that ripped right through the bay

they all sang Auld Lang Syne

as the storm passed by with stealth

they were all having a good time

and wished each other good health

they marvelled at the Piper

he played an awesome tune

it was 'the shaking of the sheets'

to which none of us are immune.

xvi)  Swan  song

Frantically, Spuddy scratches on the door

Jake's sound asleep as the anchor drags on the floor

wakes with a start to an unfamiliar song

the motion of the boat told him that something was wrong

at the absence of his crew he swore and cursed

a silent prayer and then a wild outburst

the blinding blizzard kept throwing him on the deck

as the revered Silver Crest made it's final trek

around the next headland there was a sheltered bay

if Jake had made it he could have saved the day

but two submerged rocks and a venomous wave

were determined to take them to a watery grave

Jake screamed at Spuddy to swim back to the land

then something happened he just couldn't understand

he decides to swim back as Jake clung on to the mast

to be with his beloved master as he breathed his last

so they jigged away until night turned into day

then to their horror there was no boat in the bay

none of the crew could have foreseen such a shock

to see the Silver Crest impaled on two fangs of rock.

xvii) Breaking the silence

Each flush of the tide left the beach with it's foam

on the day Andy's beloved Father came home

with his son he wants to be reconciled

down combing the beach is his motherless child

the search party had done what they had set out to do

but Andy's hope for Spuddy had not fallen through

though something caught his eye where the raised beaches extend

it was the formless shape of what was once his best friend

Andy's anxieties were totally laid bare

a presence rose within him but he was unaware

in for one final hug as the tears fell like rain

a sea burial for what the ocean had slain

sobbing uncontrolably he was stopped right in his tracks

a feeling inside his throat that would just not relax

this strange feeling took control, he had no choice

some odd reverberations and then he had a voice

the right combination for his lips had been found

and his body for the first time experienced sound

the tide finally took Spuddy, he had to let go

as all the world it seemed heard Andy scream "nooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xviii) A new dawn

From the depths of despair to a joy that's sublime

for a while they both remained frozen in time

throughout the chaos a kind of calmness obtained

right by his Son's side the Father remained

with a changed perspective under Hebridean skies

Andy can look at life tbrough different eyes

the world is his oyster with the power of speech

and with his determination nothing is out of reach

'yes' 'no' and 'Spuddy' were the only words he could say

but the sun shone on every blade of grass in the bay

bog cotton waves frantically on the valley floor

and plumes of smoke rise from the chimney once more

xix) Sunset

Merlot clouds move in a buttercup breeze

golden apples are spreading auburn leaves

painted with honey and strawberries galore

dusky purples adorn natures shore

the sun sits squat just like full bodied wine

in the end we all dance the same skyline

spray painted colours of natures caress

God's restfulness over man's restlessness

Ambrosia combs out her golden tones

tangerine skies and cold hugs your bones

coruscating colours spread down through the glen

the clouds whisper... " hey! Shall we start again?"

Based on a true story.